Raptors 96 - 102 Magic
Final
  for this game

Raptors visit Central Florida to face Magic

Jan 1, 2012 - 3:41 PM (Sports Network) - Dwight Howard hopes to build on his best game of the young season when he and the Magic entertain the Toronto Raptors in Central Florida.

Howard finished with 24 rebounds and 20 points on Friday in Charlotte, powering Orlando to an easy 100-79 win over the Bobcats. It was the first 20-20 game of the season for Howard and the 33rd of his career.

Orlando, which got a game-high 23 points from forward Ryan Anderson, began the night with an 11-0 run and never looked back.

"I think we had a good defensive night," Anderson said. "You can always point back to Dwight, though. Every time somebody takes it to the basket, you're going to see the big fella down there."

Jason Richardson ended with 16 points for the Magic, who have won three consecutive games since opening with a loss at Oklahoma City.

The Raptors, meanwhile, opened a tough three-game road trip by losing to the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, 99-86, on Friday. Ian Mahinmi scored a career- high 19 points off the bench to lead the Mavs to their first win of the season.

Andrea Bargnani scored a game-high 30 points and Leandro Barbosa chipped in 20 off the bench for the Raptors, who fell to 1-2. DeMar DeRozan and Jose Calderon both scored 11.

"We've got to understand how to win to beat a championship team. We worked hard to get a 68-61 lead, and then we've got to learn how to close it out," said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey, a former assistant in Dallas.

Toronto may be without reserve guard Jerryd Bayless tonight. Bayless twisted his ankle Friday after playing less than seven minutes in Big D and is listed as doubtful.

The Raptors, who will finish their trek in New York on Monday, have won three of the last four meetings in the series.






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