Who's Playing
Matchup: Toronto Raptors vs. Orlando Magic
Records: Raptors (7-12), Magic (8-12)
Where to Watch
Date: Sunday, Jan. 31
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: SN (Canada), League Pass (USA)
Location: Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
Game Preview
Both the Raptors and Magic are in need of a victory.
Following wins over the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers last weekend, the Raptors are riding a three-game losing streak at the hands of the Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings. Toronto is 7-12 on the season, putting it on the outside looking in on the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Half a game ahead of the Raptors in the standings are the Magic. The Magic have hit a wall following a franchise-best start, losing 10 of their last 12 games. They've had problems on both ends of the court, ranking 29th in offensive efficiency and 27th in defensive efficiency during this stretch.
Even so, Orlando will test Toronto's defence. Nikola Vucevic has been one of the best big men in the league this season with averages of 23.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. The only players with more double-doubles than Vucevic (13) are Rudy Gobert (14), Andre Drummond (15), Domantas Sabonis (18) and Nikola Jokic (19).
Vucevic has a history of struggling against Marc Gasol, but with Gasol now on the Los Angeles Lakers, the Raptors will have their hands full matching up with the one-time All-Star.
Additionally, former Raptors guard Terrence Ross has played well lately. He's coming off of one of his best performances of the season, scoring 24 points in Orlando's loss to the LA Clippers. Ross is now averaging a career-best 15.2 points per game on the season.
The Raptors enter Sunday's matchup having won their last five meetings with the Magic.
Injury Report
OG Anunoby (left calf strain) and Patrick McCaw (left knee surgery) are out for the Raptors. Norman Powell (right quadriceps contusion) is doubtful.
The Magic have not yet submitted an injury report.
Game Notes
- The Magic currently rank 28th in offensive efficiency (104.8) and 21st in defensive efficiency (111.0).
- The Raptors rank 13th in offensive efficiency (110.6) and 17th in defensive efficiency (110.3).
- Yuta Watanabe scored a career-high 12 points in Toronto's loss to Sacramento on Friday.
- Fred VanVleet is making 3.2 3-pointers per game, tying him with Jayson Tatum and Terry Rozier for the eighth-highest mark in the league.
- The Raptors are being outscored by 7.2 points per 100 possessions in the second quarter and 4.2 points per 100 possessions in the third quarter on the season.
- The No. 8 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Terrence Ross spent the first four-and-a-half seasons of his career with the Raptors.
- Ross is averaging 3.9 points per game off of screens, putting him behind only Bradley Beal (4.6) for most in the league.
- Nikola Vucevic is averaging 4.3 points per game out of the post, putting him behind only Joel Embiid (9.6), Nikola Jokic (5.7), Andre Drummond (5.2), Julius Randle (4.5) and Anthony Davis (4.5) for most in the league.
- Magic centre Khem Birch was born in Montreal.
Last Time They Played
Date: August 5, 2020
Score: Raptors 109, Magic 99
Raptors: Fred VanVleet — 21 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Magic: Evan Fournier — 15 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds
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