TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors ended their recent struggles with a decisive 109-93 victory over the injury-depleted Orlando Magic on January 21, 2025. This significant win not only marked Toronto's third victory in four outings but also showcased their remarkable resilience after trailing by as much as 21 points earlier in the contest.
After falling behind 10-0 right out of the gate, the Raptors gradually fought their way back, thanks to solid performances from RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes. Barrett led the scoring for the Raptors, finishing with 19 points, alongside Barnes, who recorded 17 points and added 11 rebounds. The duo was instrumental, particularly during the pivotal third quarter when the Raptors outscored the Magic 40-20.
Rookie Gradey Dick also had his moment, contributing 17 points, including 10 during the explosive third quarter, which saw Toronto transform their fortunes. The Raptors trailed at halftime 50-45, but turned the game around dramatically to lead 85-70 at the end of the third.
"It was about executing our game plan and staying focused," Barrett said post-game, reflecting on the turnaround. "We knew we were capable of more after the tough start, and we just had to keep pushing ourselves to get back in the game."
The Magic struggled to maintain momentum or adapt after taking quick leads of 10 and 32-11 early. Paolo Banchero stood out for Orlando with 26 points and 12 rebounds, but the team's efforts were handicapped by injuries to key players, including Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs.
On the bench for the Magic were Caleb Houstan and Cory Joseph, who each added three points but were unable to shift the game back in their team’s favor. The loss marked the Magic's fourth consecutive defeat, and they now find themselves grappling with consistency due to their injury woes.
Despite missing several players, the Magic began on fire, making their first five three-point attempts. Unfortunately for them, they could only manage four more successful three-point shots throughout the rest of the game, finishing the game with 9 for 31 from beyond the arc.
The Raptors had come off of a disappointing loss to the Milwaukee Bucks just three days prior and arrived at their home floor at Scotiabank Arena eager for redemption. Despite their earlier struggles this season, this game marked their first victory of the season after trailing at halftime, having not won any of their previous 23 such games. They found themselves rejuvenated by the enthusiastic support of their home crowd.
"We had to change the narrative after our earlier game against them this season. We couldn’t keep falling behind against teams like Orlando, even with their injuries," Scottie Barnes said, commenting on the team’s newfound energy. "Everyone stepped up, and it's great to see the ball moving as it did tonight. We played like we know we can."
The key moment of the game came when Raptors’ point guard Davion Mitchell executed a driving layup with 6:52 remaining, giving the Raptors their first lead at 60-59—a lead they would not relinquish.
With this victory, Toronto improved their record to 11-32, showcasing their potential to rise up the standings with stronger performances going forward. Their next challenge will be against the Atlanta Hawks, where fans will be eager to see if the Raptors can maintain their momentum.
For Orlando, the season is showing signs of despair with mounting injuries and waning consistency. Their record now stands at 23-22, and they aim to bounce back against the Portland Trail Blazers next.
The Raptors have begun to instill some belief back among their fanbase, but the road remains long, starting with their upcoming games later this week. Toronto looks eager to build off this recent success and find additional wins for the remainder of their season.