Lowry's sharp shooting helps Raptors down Magic
Feb 24, 2014 - 5:01 AMVideo
Lowry didn't miss a shot in the game-altering third, scoring 17 of his 28 points in the frame as Toronto rolled to its fifth win in six games.
DeMar DeRozan provided 24 points, Terrence Ross added 16 and Amir Johnson had 12 for the Raptors, whose 52.3 percent efficiency from the field offset 24 turnovers.
Tobias Harris and E'Twaun Moore netted 28 and 16 points, respectively, for the Magic, who have dropped 15 in a row on the road.
The Raptors led by three at halftime, and Lowry single-handedly helped them pull away after the break, as the emerging guard began his tear midway through the period with the first of his four 3-pointers in the frame.
He added a reverse layup and three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt, then hit a stepback 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Toronto an 80-65 cushion heading to the fourth.
"He can create shots for himself and his team. He was taking deep threes," Magic head coach Jacque Vaughn said of Lowry. "You can't get discouraged. This is the NBA, guys are going to make shots."
Lowry kept the hot streak going in the final frame with a bank shot on the opening possession, and the Magic never made a serious run at altering the outcome.
"We keep coming out sluggish and turn it on later," Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said. "We just have to be able to do it for the whole 48 minutes."
Despite committing 11 turnovers in the first half, the Raptors brought a 44-41 lead into the locker room at halftime, thanks in part to making 10 free throws to Orlando's one.
Game Notes
The Raptors are six games over .500 (31-25) for the first time since Feb. 24, 2010 ... Toronto is 11-3 at home since New Year's Day ... This is Orlando's longest road skid since a 16-game drought from Jan. 27-March 21, 2006 ... Magic guard Arron Afflalo sat out with a sprained right ankle ... The Raptors have won six straight meetings against the Magic.
Feb 23 8:36 PM- ORLANDO: 65
TORONTO: 80
End of 3rd
Feb 23 7:56 PM - ORLANDO: 41
TORONTO: 44
Halftime
Feb 23 7:08 PM - ORLANDO: 14
TORONTO: 19
End of 1st
Feb 23 6:35 PM - ORLANDO: 0
TORONTO: 0
1st Quarter - 11:47
Feb 23 6:12 PM
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