Official Student Media of Valencia College

Valencia Voice

Official Student Media of Valencia College

Valencia Voice

Official Student Media of Valencia College

Valencia Voice

Magic fall to Raptors game winner, fourth consecutive loss

Magic+fall+to+Raptors+game+winner%2C+fourth+consecutive+loss

ORLANDO—Torontoʼs DeMar DeRozanʼs clutch buzzer beater handed the Orlando Magic a fourth straight loss to a score of 97-95 Thursday night, as the Magic rallied back late in fourth despite Torontoʼs guard scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter.

“It was a team effort, every guy that stepped on the floor,” said Magic head coach Jacque Vaughn after the game. “I thought there were multiple times throughout the course of the game where we got multiple stops in a row and thatʼs what we want to focus on.”

The Magic began the fourth quarter losing by eight points, but Orlando sparked a late rally, consisting of Jameer Nelson (14 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds), Glen Davis (15 points, seven rebounds) and J.J. Redickʼs (14 points) late four-point play to take the win late in the fourth quarter, but Torontoʼs late dominance in the paint cost Orlando a loss.

“The coaches drew up a good play. They had Jose [Calderon] shoot out at the top and I go off the screen and run across the floor,” said DeRozan on his game winning shot that handed Toronto a win after falling in overtime to Miami last night.

Nikola Vucevic finished the game with 19 points and 14 rebounds, controlling most of the paint during the game, despite not playing in the fourth quarter.

“Matchups, they went small. I could only have one big on the floor. They had four perimeter guys whether it was Calderon, Lowry, Ross, Fields, Anderson,” said Vaughn on why he didnʼt play Vucevic in the fourth. “They went small. It was just matchups.”

Orlando had trouble holding Toronto as the Raptors opened up the game on a 7-2 run. The Magic would respond to a run of their own, going on a 9-2 run taking its first lead of 9-7 with 8:35 left in the first quarter.

“Weʼre losing all the games that are close right now. Soon those games will back to us,” said Davis after the game. “Donʼt know when or where, but itʼs going to come before the season is over with.”

Despite the last second loss, Vaughn believed that the team played well “as a team.”

Glen Davis, who is still trying to have a big game after coming back from injury, only scored 15 points, but coach Vaughn is still putting his faith on the big man.

“I love Glenʼs head and he was great for us tonight,” said Vaughn. “He picked some early fouls, I stuck with him like I have this entire year and weʼll continue to stick with him.”

The Magic look to rebound from the loss and their four game losing skid when they host the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.

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