Raptors 104, Magic 100: Toronto's bench ends Orlando's upset hopes

The Orlando Magic dropped their second straight contest Tuesday, 104-100, to the Toronto Raptors, squandering a lead they took in the first quarter and built to as much as 11 on several occasions. Toronto's second unit went on an 11-0 run against Orlando's reserves in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, tying the score and setting the table for its starters to take command.

Orlando got 23 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists from Tobias Harris and another 18 points, with five three-pointers, from Channing Frye in Frye's best performance since joining the club as a free agent in July. But the Raptors' hot start to the fourth quarter proved to be the difference in the game.

The Magic limited DeMar DeRozan, the All-Star swingman, to 16 points on 4-of-15 shooting, but Lou Williams came off the bench to add an efficient 14 in 16 minutes.

Harris drove to the rim for a tough layup in traffic, bringing the Magic within a point with less than a minute to play. After Orlando's defense held strong, Evan Fournier's go-ahead jumper try missed the mark. Patrick Patterson split a pair of foul shots to put the Raptors up two. On Orlando's final possession, Harris' pull-up, in-between jumper didn't find the bottom.

Notably, Magic rookie Elfrid Payton exited the game at the 4:19 mark of the third quarter with his club up seven points. Luke Ridnour played the final 16-plus minutes for Orlando. The veteran point guard finished the night with six points, three rebounds, and a team-high-tying six assists, but found himself at a decisive speed and quickness disadvantage against Williams and Kyle Lowry.