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Bosh, Raptors hope for success against powerful Magic

Jan 4, 2009 - 2:28 PM Orlando (26-7) at Toronto (13-20) 12:30 p.m. EST

TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Toronto Raptors are trying to save their season. Facing another conference power won't make that goal any easier.

The Raptors will be attempting to win their second straight home game when they host the Orlando Magic on Sunday.

Chris Bosh and company were knocked out of the playoffs by the Magic in the first round last season and have yet to regain their playoff form in this campaign, struggling mightily at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

But a convincing, 94-73, win over the Houston Rockets on Friday snapped a four-game home losing streak and provided a picture of what Toronto could look like should the pieces come together. Bosh and former No. 1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani scored 19 points apiece while the Raptors held the Rockets to 34 percent shooting.

The Magic should prove to be a much tougher test. Orlando has won 13 of its last 15 games and sports a balanced offense in which any of four or five players could lead the team in scoring on a given night.

Dwight Howard works the inside, averaging 19.5 points and an NBA-best 13.8 rebounds, which opens up the outside for shooters Rashard Lewis (19.6 points), Hedo Turkoglu (16.7) and Jameer Nelson (16.5).

Bosh went off for 40 points and 18 rebounds in the first meeting of the season between the teams back on November 18, but Lewis, Turkoglu and Nelson scored 22 points apiece to lead the Magic to a 103-90 win.