Raptors 105, Orlando 100
TORONTO -- The Toronto Raptors kept pace with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the race for the top seed in the Eastern Conference, defeating the Orlando Magic 105-100 on Sunday at Air Canada Centre.
With the victory Toronto (48-21) moved to a game back of the Cavaliers (49-20).
DeMar DeRozan led the way with a game-high 25 points and five assists. Luis Scola added 20 points and eight rebounds while Kyle Lowry chipped in with 18 points and seven assists.
Center Bismack Biyombo picked up his third double-double in four games while filling in for the injured Jonas Valanciunas. Biyombo finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Toronto has now won four straight and improved to 13-4 since the all-star break.
Orlando (29-40) was paced by 21 points and six rebounds from Victor Oladipo while Evan Fournier had 21 points. Canadian Andrew Nicholson chipped in with 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench.
The Magic have now lost three straight and have just three wins in their last 11. Orlando trails the Chicago Bulls by six games for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Toronto used a 10-0 run to take a four-point lead with 5:22 left in the fourth and hung on for the victory.
The Magic carried an 82-80 lead into the fourth on the strength of 51.6 percent shooting from the field. Toronto's struggled on the offensive side of the ball as well missing 12 free throws through three quarters while shooting 45.8 percent.
Oladipo led the way with nine second quarter points as the Magic took a 55-53 lead into recess.
Orlando out-scored Toronto 23-16, including a 13-2 run, to take its first lead of the game, 48-46 with 3:28 remaining in the half.
DeRozan led the Raptors with 18 points at the break.
Scola scored four unanswered to give Toronto a 30-25 lead after one period.
The Raptors went on a 10-3 run to take a 15-5 lead ahead of the game's first time out with 6:33 remaining in the first. Following the Magic timeout, Orlando went on a 15-6 surge to pull to within two.
NOTES: F Patrick Patterson missed his first game with a left ankle injury suffered in Friday's 105-91 win over the Boston Celtics. ... C Jonas Valanciunas, who hasn't played since March 14 due to a left hand contusion, was available. ... F James Johnson (plantar fasciitis) was available after missing two games. ... Toronto recalled F Bruno Caboclo from the D-League's Raptors 905 prior to tipoff. ... Magic PG Elfrid Payton (elbow) was available on Sunday after missing five games. ... C Nikola Vucevic (right groin strain) missed his eighth game.