Magic at Raptors
The Toronto Raptors attempt to close out their Eastern Conference first-round series with Orlando on Tuesday when they host the Magic in Game 5. Orlando pulled off a stunning upset in Game 1 before the Raptors rolled off three straight victories, the last two on the road.
Second-seeded Toronto rolled to a solid 107-85 victory in Game 4 on Sunday with All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard leading the assault with 34 points for his second 30-point effort of the series. "Road wins are the best, especially in the playoffs," Leonard told reporters afterward. "We all know the job isn't done yet." The seventh-seeded Magic have dropped games by 29 and 22 points in the series and are refusing to believe that they can't still make it a competitive matchup. "We're going to go to Toronto and, obviously, look for a win," Orlando power forward Aaron Gordon told reporters. "We've shown that we can win there before and that's what we're going to do. That's the idea, go out there and fight - definitely fight - and potentially get back (to Orlando for a Game 6). We get a win out there, then the series is up for grabs."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Florida (Orlando), TSN (Toronto)
ABOUT THE MAGIC: Orlando felt it could give the Raptors a strong battle after splitting the first two games in Toronto but it returns across the border with its season on the line. "We've got to regroup," swingman Terrence Ross told reporters. "We've got to do it fast and we've got to watch film and understand better what we need to do. We've got a way to play and I just think we've got to figure that out. They're throwing all sorts of coverages at us and we've got to figure something out." Ross was one of the struggling players in Game 4 as he scored just five points in 31 minutes after averaging 19.5 points over the previous two games.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS: Leonard is averaging 28 points in the series with a high of 37 and he said after Game 4 he is enjoying being back in the playoffs after missing the postseason last season while injured with the San Antonio Spurs. "You just want to be out there on the floor, with your teammates and just feel that team spirit and chemistry, just trying to focus on one goal," Leonard told reporters. "That's something I was missing, just being out, sitting out. That's why it's a blessing this year just to be able to play and be on the floor, regardless of what the outcome is." Power forward Pascal Siakam is averaging 22.3 points and nine rebounds in the series but had his quietest outing of 16 points and six rebounds in Game 4.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Magic are averaging just 86.7 points during their three straight setbacks, scoring 85 or fewer points in two of the losses.
2. Toronto PG Kyle Lowry is just 15-of-38 shooting in the series while averaging 10.5 points.
3. Gordon scored 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting in Game 4 for his second 20-point outing of the series.