The Raptors put up a good fight, but once again, they were outmatched in every aspect of the game and lost 111-96 to the Magic in Orlando on Sunday night. This defeat marked the seventh consecutive loss for Toronto, making it the longest active losing streak in the NBA. It also meant that the Magic completed a sweep of the season series against the Raptors. The Raptors are currently dealing with a series of injuries in what has been a challenging season for them. In the previous game on Friday, Toronto lost mainly due to a lack of size and interior defense, allowing the Magic to score 52 points in the paint. This trend continued on Sunday, with the Magic scoring 60 points from the same area. Like the previous game, the Raptors managed to keep the score close in the first half and even led briefly in the second quarter. However, Orlando pulled away in the third quarter and secured a comfortable lead, never allowing the Raptors to threaten their advantage. The Magic have shown significant improvement this season, led by Paolo Banchero, the first overall draft pick in 2022. Banchero has been a standout performer, leading the team in scoring, rebounds, and assists. In the game against the Raptors, he scored 29 points, while his teammate Franz Wagner contributed 22 points and nine assists. The Magic are currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 40-28 and are on track to finish with a winning record for only the second time since 2011-12. They have made the playoffs only twice during that period.
Season swept: Why The Raptors have no answer for Paulo Banchero and the Magic in Orlando
