Raptors’ bench strength key in win over Magic

TORONTO – Veterans Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk hopped disconnected the seat to prevention the Toronto Raptors connected Tuesday.

Brown and Olynyk didn’t pb the Toronto scoring successful the Raptors 109-93 triumph against the Orlando Magic, but they provided a much-needed spark successful the archetypal half.

The Raptors (11-32) trailed by arsenic overmuch arsenic 21 points successful the archetypal quarter. But acknowledgment to the play of their seat they overcame the immense shortage for their biggest comeback of the season.

“That’s our job,” Brown said. “Some games you don’t request the starters to assistance america up.”

Brown and the Canadian Olynyk not lone provided offence with 15 and 12 points, respectively. They acceptable up their teammates with Brown checking successful for 5 assists to Olynyk’s three.

They rebounded and Olynyk blocked 4 Magic attempts for his highest full successful a crippled since 2018.

“Turning backmost the clock,” Olynyk remarked smiling. “Those were the bully aged days.”

This was the archetypal clip the Raptors had flooded a 21-point first-quarter shortage to triumph since a Jan. 22, 2014 outing against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Raptors seat outscored Orlando’s reserves 41-11 arsenic some Brown and Olynyk scored 10-plus points successful back-to-back games for the archetypal clip this season.

“Bruce was capable to assistance america get backmost successful the crippled with immoderate deflections and steals and people immoderate points for us,” Raptors manager Darko Rajakovic said.

The Raptors fell down the injury-depleted Magic 10-0 successful the opening 3 minutes, trailed 16-3 and 32-11 with 4:12 remaining successful the archetypal quarter.

Orlando started with 6-for-6 shooting and a blistery commencement by violative standout Paolo Banchero, who scored 8 points successful the opening 12 minutes and finished with 26 overall.

Scottie Barnes got stingy with his defence connected Banchero to springiness the Raptors a accidental for the comeback earlier 18,284 astatine Scotiabank Arena.

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“I deliberation Scotty truly tightened the screws,” Olynyk said. “That benignant of forced him into immoderate tougher spots. (Banchero) is pugnacious to guard. He’s strong, athletic, a force.”

After a dilatory start, RJ Barrett finished with 19 points, portion Barnes was bully for 17 much and 11 rebounds. The Raptors scored a whopping 40 third-quarter points to triumph their 3rd successful 4 outings.

The injury-depleted Magic (23-22) dropped their 4th successful a row.

Orlando has been decimated by injuries arsenic Franz Wagner (torn close oblique), Jalen Suggs (low backmost strain), Goga Bitadze (concussion protocol) and Moe Wagner (left knee) remained out. Gradey Dick of the Raptors scored 17 points connected the spot of a 10-point 3rd quarter.

Besides Banchero’s game-high 26 points, the Magic received 20 points from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and 17 from Anthony Black.

This study by The Canadian Press was archetypal published Jan. 21, 2025.