Magic set to start two-game series with new-look Raptors
TORONTO — Paolo Banchero became the eighth player in Magic history to score 20-plus points on 100% shooting with at least six attempts against the Nets on Wednesday night.
But it wasn’t just his ability to score that helped Orlando snap a two-game losing streak during the Magic’s 8-point victory against Brooklyn.
Banchero dished out more assists (9) than shots taken (6) in his 35 minutes while finishing with the Magic’s highest plus-minus rating (plus-18) at Kia Center.
The Magic forward took advantage of the attention he garnered from Brooklyn’s defense and found open teammates.
“He did a great job of recognizing and reading the way the defense was loading up on him,” coach Jamahl Mosley said. “He had some great passes cross-court, recognizing where the double-teams were coming from. He had a level of patience and poise being able to read the game.
“His teammates continue to trust him and he continues to make the right play.”
Banchero will likely have to do more of the same Friday night at Toronto as he’s regularly been the focal points of opposing defenses (Bally Sports Florida, 7:30).
This will be just the second this season between the sides, but the first of two in the next three days. Orlando (38-28) defeated Toronto by 19 points in the 14th game of the season in late November.
After hosting the Magic at Scotiabank Arena, the Raptors (23-43) travel to Kia Center for a Sunday contest (Bally Sports Florida, 6).
Toronto looks much different. Of the Raptors’ starting five from the first game, only forward Scottie Barnes and center Jakob Poeltl remain.
Barnes (fractured left hand) and Poeltl (left hand ligament tear) won’t be available for Toronto. In addition, Montverde Academy product RJ Barrett (personal reasons) and DJ Carton (right ankle sprain) are out.
The Raptors acquired Barrett from the Knicks in late December as part of a larger trade that sent OG Anunoby to New York. Barrett’s brother, Nathan Tyler Barrett, died Tuesday, according to the team.
In mid-January, Toronto sent two-time All-NBA forward Pascal Siakam to Indiana in exchange for a handful of players including forward Bruce Brown, who’s averaged 9.2 points in 26.3 minutes since his arrival.
The Raptors continued to overhaul its roster in February ahead of the trade deadline by acquiring center Kelly Olynyk and guard Ochai Agbaji from the Jazz as well as guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who later was waived before signing with the Lakers for rest of the season.
Sellers at the deadline, the Raptors sit out of contention to make the NBA Play-In Tournament and have lost five in a row.
The Magic enter the matchup with a clean bill of health after getting Jalen Suggs and Markelle Fultz back against Brooklyn.
Entering Thursday’s games, No. 5 Orlando sat half a game behind the fourth-seeded Knicks (38-27) and 1.5 games in front of the sixth-seeded 76ers (36-29). Both played Thursday night.
Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on X, known as Twitter, at @therealBeede.
