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Orlando Sentinel
Orlando Sentinel
Sport
Roy Parry

Magic fall to Raptors after Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon suffer ankle injuries

TORONTO _ The Orlando Magic saw their three-game win streak come to an end amid some familiar offensive struggles in Toronto, falling, 113-97, to the Raptors on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena.

But more concerning for the Magic were injuries to starters Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon.

Evan Fournier scored 21 points to lead Orlando, which fell to 6-8 overall and 0-5 on the road and lost in Toronto for the second time this season. The Magic shot 38.2% and scored 95 points in the first meeting.

They looked like they were on their way to a better offensive performance on Wednesday. After going 12 of 22 from the field and scoring 32 points in the first quarter, the Magic floundered the rest of the way, going 23 of 69 (33.3%).

Orlando went a combined 12 of 49 in the second and third quarters as their point total in that stretch (36) barely exceeded their first-quarter total.

Their streak of six straight 100-point efforts also came to a halt.

Jonathan Isaac finished with 16 points, going over the 1,000 career points mark, and tied a career high with 13 rebounds, while Terrence Ross finished with 14 points for the Magic.

Fred VanVleet finished with a game-high 24 points for the Raptors, while reserve guard Terence Davis II had 19 points, Pascal Siakam had 18 points and Norman Powell had 15 for Toronto, which improved to 6-0 at home.

The Magic stayed somewhat close by outscoring the Raptors 16-7 from the free-throw line at one point.

The Raptors went on a 13-4 run during a 2:33 stretch (from 7:03 to 4:30) of the fourth quarter to break open a seven-point game.

Toronto finished with 10 more field goals and recorded 68 points in the paint. Orlando entered the game allowing 42.5 points in the paint per game.

The Magic played the second half without Vucevic, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, and Gordon.

Both sustained right ankle sprains in the first half and did not return. They combined to play just 23 minutes. They were averaging close to a combined 64 minutes entering Wednesday's game.

The injury ended another frustrating night for Vucevic against the Raptors. He was just 1 of 7 from the field for three points. Vucevic is now shooting 10% (2 of 20) in two games this season against Toronto.

Vucevic had to be helped off the floor after injuring his right ankle trying to block a layup attempt by Powell with 5:32 left in the second quarter. Vucevic appeared to land awkwardly when he came down from his leap.

Gordon came down hard trying to defend a layup attempt by OG Anunoby. Mo Bamba was credited with a blocked shot on the play, but Gordon wound up laying on his stomach under the basket as the play went to the other end of the court.

Gordon got up smiling and walked somewhat gingerly toward the Magic bench. He was replaced by Isaac with 8:27 left in the half and did not return.

Gordon had two points and two rebounds in 12 minutes before he left the game.

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