• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Magic cruise past Raptors

Mar 27, 2012 - 2:57 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Ryan Anderson connected on 8-of-13 three-point attempts en route to a game-high 28 points to help Orlando cruise to a 117-101 victory over the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre on Monday.

"It was just us moving the ball and coming out with a ton of energy," remarked Anderson about his offensive onslaught. "We were getting into pick-and-rolls and really moving the defense around. That's something we need to do more of."

Dwight Howard poured in 23 points to go with 10 rebounds and Jameer Nelson added 18 points and seven assists to help Orlando earn its third consecutive win.

Gary Forbes led the way for Toronto with 21 points, while Linas Kleiza chipped in 18 points and Jose Calderon handed out 11 assists. The Raptors have dropped five of their last six contests.

"We've shown that we can compete with anybody," said Calderon after the loss. "We just have to get back to the things we were doing. It's a tough one. We have to learn from this one like we learn from the good ones."

Anderson sank three three-pointers in the first seven minutes of the game as the Magic scored the first 10 points of the contest and held a 24-8 lead with 5:07 left in the first.

Toronto responded with a 20-4 surge as Kleiza and Jerryd Bayless sank treys around a Nelson layup, and Bayless added another a minute later. The spurt bridged the first and second quarters as Kleiza finished the run with a jumper to open the second and bring his team even at 28.

Orlando continued its hot shooting from distance with three straight three- pointers to take a 37-30 edge less than two minutes into the stanza.

The lead sat at seven before Anderson sank his fifth three of the half with 4:19 left to restore a double-digit lead, 52-42, for Orlando.

Anderson finished the half 6-of-9 from three-point range providing the Magic with a 61-49 halftime advantage.

Toronto quickly cut the margin to 10 to open the second half, but another triple from Anderson sparked a 14-4 surge, giving the visitors a 75-55 lead with 7:53 left in the third.

The Raptors clawed back into the game as Calderon's triple brought them within 12 with four minutes to play, but the home team wouldn't score again from the field in the quarter as Orlando outscored them 13-5 over the final four minutes to press the difference to 93-73 heading into the final frame.

The lead reached 23 at its peak and Toronto never threatened in the fourth, allowing the Magic to complete the double-digit road victory.

Game Notes

Orlando will travel to New York on Tuesday, while the Raptors continue their five-game home stand against Denver on Wednesday...Bayless saw action in Monday's game after missing the previous two with a left hip pointer, but left the contest midway through the second quarter and did not return after re- injuring the hip...Earlier on Monday, Toronto signed guard Alan Anderson to a 10-day contract from the NBDL's Canton Charge.