TAMPA, Fla. — Just two nights after Pascal Siakam criticized his team’s first-half effort in a loss to the Sacramento Kings, the Toronto Raptors came out of the gate on Sunday and set the tone early versus the Orlando Magic.
Siakam scored 30 points and 10 rebounds while Kyle Lowry, Terence Davis and DeAndre’ Bembry each chipped in 12 points to lead the Raptors to a 115-102 victory over the Magic to snap a three-game losing streak.
Toronto opened up with a 27-15 lead after the first quarter, and pushed that advantage to 14 points at halftime. Playing without OG Anunoby and Norm Powell, Toronto led for nearly the entirety of the game.
“We just came out ready to go,” Raptors head coach Nick Nurse said. “You could see it right from the defensive stand at the start. (We had) really good execution offensively and played pretty solidly throughout. There were really no dips in effort or energy.”
Siakam produced his second straight game with at least 30 points after tying a season-high 32 versus the Kings on Friday. The Raptors All-Star throughout the season has dealt with some minor injuries but appears to be on the mend with his last two performances.
“I think the biggest part for me is just to continue to work on my body and my game,” Siakam said. “I think for the past (few) weeks, I haven’t been feeling well with little injuries here and there. … I think if I feel good, I have that ability to go out there and just bring that energy every single night and live with the results.”
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Meanwhile, Magic rookie Cole Anthony scored a team-high 16 points while Nikola Vucevic had 15 points and Aaron Gordon contributed 14 points. Orlando briefly led in the first quarter, but quickly fell behind and never recovered.
The Magic endured yet another injury setback in the third quarter when Gordon was diagnosed with a left ankle injury and was ruled out of returning to the contest.
Gordon on two separate occasions was forced to the locker room, with the first time occurring during the second quarter after suffering a hyperextended knee when he was tangled up with Kyle Lowry. On the ensuing possession, Gordon checked Lowry with a shoulder and was assessed a flagrant-1 foul in what appeared to be a retaliation move following the incident.
“I have no update,” Magic head coach Steve Clifford said. “We’re actually lucky, by the way, that he didn’t get hurt worse in the first half with his knee with the Kyle Lowry, whatever you want to call it, block-out of the ball.”
Following the contest on Sunday, the two teams will meet again on Tuesday in Orlando.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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