TORONTO _ Terrence Ross played only 10 minutes Sunday night, but that brief playing time just might be enough to give him momentum heading into next season.
Four months after he sprained a ligament and fractured the tibial plateau in his right knee, Ross made his long-awaited return when the Orlando Magic lost to the Toronto Raptors 112-101 at Air Canada Centre.
It was too little, too late to make a dent in the Magic's disastrous season _ with its defeat Sunday, the team fell to 24-56 and preserved its odds for the upcoming NBA draft lottery.
But Ross' return after such a long absence was more about the 2018-19 season than it was about this season.
"A player returning from an injury like this has to start viewing [himself] as a player, not a patient," Magic coach Frank Vogel said. "That's one of the transitions you have to make when you've been out for such a long time. So for him to get back in some games will be good for him."
Ross entered Sunday's game with 3:02 remaining in the first quarter, and he made a contribution right away. On his first offensive possession back, he threw a pinpoint pass to Bismack Biyombo in the lane. Biyombo caught the ball, elevated and dunked, giving Ross an assist.
Early in the second quarter, Biyombo batted away a Toronto pass, and Ross gathered the ball. Ross dribbled upcourt and hurled the ball to Mario Hezonja, who scored on a layup.
Ross missed his first three shot attempts before he sank a 3-pointer with 11:23 remaining in the fourth quarter. He deked in one direction, confusing defender C.J. Miles, cut left and sank his trey from 26 feet. The basket cut the Raptors' lead to 92-77.
Ross finished with three points on 1-of-5 shooting, two assists and two turnovers.
Ross sustained his injury on Nov. 29, in a victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He missed a shot from the left corner, and Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook grabbed the loose ball and sped upcourt in transition. Ross sprinted back in pursuit, and when Westbrook elevated for a layup, Ross jumped to challenge the shot. Ross' right knee buckled when he landed.
Ross knew immediately that the injury was serious.
His sprained medial collateral ligament and tibial plateau fracture healed enough that he was playing 3-on-3 with teammates just before the All-Star break. But Ross suffered a major setback when he bruised a bone in his right knee.
The discomfort from the bruise only recently subsided.
Vogel said Ross' absence contributed to Orlando's struggles on defense this season.
The Magic had difficulty slowing the Raptors (58-22) even though All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan and starting center Jonas Valanciunas were given the night off to rest. Toronto still made 50 percent of its shots overall and 43 percent of its 3-pointers.
Miles and rookie forward OG Anunoby did the bulk of the damage, combining to go 10 from 18 beyond the arc. Miles finished with 22 points while Anunoby added 21 points.
