FINAL: Orlando Magic 102 - Toronto Raptors 92

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April 28, 2008 - Amway Arena

	1	2	3	4	F
RAPTORS	26	24	18	24	92
MAGIC	22	27	25	28	102

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LIVE POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCES
Moments after the conclusion of the game, click here to access a live video stream of the postgame press conference, featuring Orlando's Stan Van Gundy and Toronto's Sam Mitchell, in addition to several players from each team.



By Nick Adams | OrlandoMagic.com

FOURTH QUARTER
The Magic are 12 minutes away from their first playoff series victory since 1996, and Howard starts off the fourth quarter by throwing in a jump hook to give the Magic their largest lead of the ballgame at eight points.

Kapono nets two jumpers to trim the Magic lead to four points but it's "Turk Time" as Hedo answers with a tough layup. Lewis and Delfino trade jumpers as the Magic cling to a six point advantage with 7:16 left in the game.

All Magic starters have scord in double figures with Howard leading the way with 19 points and 16 rebounds. Bosh has gotten things going here in the fourth and throws in a hook shot to bring the Raptors within two at the halfway mark in the fourth. I give the Mike Ditka award for "Player or Coach which most resembles his respective teams mascot" to Chris Bosh who moves and looks like a Raptor.

Bogans nets a huge three-pointer from the corner and Howard drops in an easy two to bring the Amway crowd to their feet as the Magic have taken a seven point lead as we approach four minutes.

The arena erupts as Nelson strokes a triple from the corner to give the Magic a 92-82 lead with 2:57 to go. Everyone in Amway is on their feet and the place is the loudest I have ever heard it.

It gets even louder as Bogans nets another triple. The excitement in the arena is literally making me shake as the Magic are just one minute away from taking this first round playoff series.

It is pandemonium in Amway as the seconds wind down in the fourth quarter. The Magic win 102-92 and take the first round playoff series from the Raptors.

Final: Orlando Magic 102, Toronto Raptors 92

THIRD QUARTER
The Amway crowd begins the second half on their feet as they greet the Magic out onto the floor and T.J. Ford quickly sits them down by knocking down a jumper. Evans drills his trademark three from the corner and Turk gets a breakaway slam to put the Magic back ahead by two points.

Both teams start the second half on fire and go back-and-forth for much of the first stages of the third period. Van Gundy calls a timeout halfway through the quarter with the Magic trailing 62-60.

You can feel the tension mounting as Turkoglu ties the ballgame up with an acrobatic layup. You just get the feel that this game is going to come down to the last possession. The teams continue to trade buckets and the Raptors take a 66-65 lead as we head under three mintues.

Nelson drills a triple from the top of the key to give the lead back to the Magic. Dooling comes off the bench and throws in a jump shot to increase the lead to four points as we head under a minute remaining in the third.

Howard converts a jump hook as Chris Bosh goes off on the refs to earn a technical foul. Bosh had better watch it because he is dangerously close from being tossed from the game. He is probably frustrated because the Magic have done a wonderful job in holding him to just eight points and eight rebounds thus far.

Howard splits a pair from the chairty stripe to give the Magic a 74-68 lead heading into the final period.

End of Third: Orlando Magic 74, Toronto Raptors 68

SECOND QUARTER
The second quarter does not start well for the Magic as the Raptors outscore the Magic 6-3 within the first three minutes to take a 32-25 lead. Dooling hits a big three-pointer and makes a great defensive play drawing an offensive foul from Toronto's Rasho Nesterovic as we hit a TV timeout with the Magic trailing 34-30 with 8:05 left in the first half.

Since jumping out to a great start and a 10-2 lead, the Magic have been out of sync on offense and now trail the Raptors by seven points. Howard gets the crowd back into the game by flusing home a two-handed monster slam on a nice pick-and-roll feed from Keith Bogans. Howard strokes two from the charity stripe to bring the Magic back within three points.

The Raptors are one of those teams who are extremely annoying because they seem like tough because they talk so much trash but in reality they are really soft, flopping and complaining with every call. The Magic become more aggressive and begin to take the ball to the basket drawing fouls from the always innocent Raptors. The Raptors' reactions have really fueled this crowd and brought the Magic within two points.

Lewis hits two more free-throws for the Magic as they have regained the lead at 45-44 as we head under two minutes. Ford quickly answers with a jumper and two free-throws to put the Raptors back ahead by three points with one minute to go.

Nelson knocks down a big jumper but Ford answers right back again to sustain the Raptors three point lead. Lewis throws in a tough jumper to end the half as the Magic trail 50-49.

Haltime: Toronto Raptors 50, Orlando Magic 49

FIRST QUARTER
Good evening Magic fans and welcome to tonight's Game Five as the Magic look to close out the Toronto Raptors in this best-of-seven first round playoff series. The Amway crowd is once again split down center court as half the right side wears blue and the left side white.

Hedo Turkoglu is honored before the game for earning the 2007-2008 NBA Most Improved Player Award and receives a standing ovation from the Amway crowd. I expect Turk to come out and have a stellar performance tonight.

The 17,000 plus fans packed into the arena stand a cheer as the two teams meet at mid-court for tonight's opening tip as Dwight Howard squares off against Chris Bosh. Joining Howard and Bosh in the starting lineups is Jameer Nelson, Maurice Evans, Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis for the Magic and T.J. Ford, Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon and Andrea Bargnani for the Raptors.

On top of the crowd noise, each fan is equipped with two tundersticks which makes it very difficult to hear the person beside you. Things get even louder as Rashard Lewis nets a triple to score the first points of the ballgame.

The Magic are off to another great start in the first quarter as Evans cans a trey and then throws down a two-handed slam in transition to give the Magic an early 10-2 advantage. Toronto head coach Sam Mitchell calls a timeout as the roof blows off the arena.

Chants of "Let's Go Magic" fill the crowd but the Raptors come out strong out of the timeout scoring five straight points to cut the Magic lead to three points. Howard and Bosh trade baskets and Turkoglu nets two from the charity stripe to give the Magic a 14-11 lead halfway through the opening period.

Tiger Woods is in the house tonight cheering on the Magic in this possible elimination game and Woods applaudes as Evans scores his game-high seventh point to give the Magic a four point lead.

Former Magic player and current Chicago Bulls forward Drew Gooden is in attendance and sat down just to the left of media row. Gooden is sporting sun glasses indoors which leads me to believe that he has either gone blind or is just way too cool. Gooden once sported a lone patch of hair on his neck, so you make the call. Ford converts a layup to bring the Raptors within two points to force a timeout from Van Gundy with 2:47 remaining in the first quarter.

Kapono, who struts around like he is some Italian mob boss, scores two to give the Raptors a one point lead. Calderon throws in a three-pointer at the buzzer as the Magic trail the Raptors 26-22 as the first quarter concludes. Calderon throws up three fingers on each hand to indicate that he made a three-pointer, but I don't think the native Spaniard knows that two threes equal six. Someone should inform him of his mathematical error and also remind him that his team his down three games to one.

End of First: Toronto Raptors 26, Orlando Magic 22

SHOOTAROUND
Game Five at Amway Arena on Monday night should be another physical, hard fought battle as the Magic and Raptors meet with much at stake for both teams.

For Orlando, win and they close out their first playoff series win in over a decade while avoiding having to fly back to Toronto for Game Six. With a victory tonight, the Magic would be the first team in the 2008 Playoffs to advance to the second round, therefore allowing them more time for rest before the start of the next round.

"We don't want to get on a plane and go back to Toronto," said Rashard Lewis. "We want to end this series now so we can rest up and get ready for the second round."

"The close-out game is always hard to get because the team with their back to the wall is going to fight very hard," head coach Stan Van Gundy added. "We know going in that we need our best game of the series and that it won't be easy."

The game will not be easy because Toronto is in a must win situation, and the Magic players know this will bring out the best in the Raptors for Game Five.

"We know that Toronto is going to be fired up and ready to play," Lewis stated. "We know they are going to come out really strong in the first quarter."

"When a team is facing elimination and their backs are up against the wall, they are going to bring their "A" game," commented Jameer Nelson. "We know that they are going to come out with a lot of focus and intensity."

Nelson stepped up big in Game Four, making seven straight points in the fourth quarter to propel the Magic to the 106-94 victory.

The series has seemed to have a direct correlation with each team's point guard play. Nelson has outplayed Toronto's tandem of T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon in each of the Magic's three wins while Ford and Calderon exploded in the Raptor's only victory of the series in Game Three.

With the point guard match-up having such an impact on the series, Van Gundy knows that his point guard needs to come out aggressive in order for Orlando to be successful.

"The thing that Jameer can control is his energy level. When his energy level is aggressive and high he usually plays very well."

Nelson agreed with his coaches' comments, "I just have to stay aggressive and take what the defense is giving me."

Nelson has been troubled by back spasms suffered after Game Three but claims that it is not bothering him.

"As long as I am out on the floor, I am 100 percent."

Orlando will need Nelson and the rest of the team to play at 100 percent as they look to advance to the second round with a victory at home on Monday night.

PREGAME
The Orlando Magic return to Amway Arena for Game Five on Monday night needing just one victory to claim their first playoff series win since the 1996 playoffs.

The Magic took a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday with a 106-94 victory in Game Four thanks to a stellar performance by Rashard Lewis.

Lewis led the Magic with a team-high 27 points, including a three-point dagar with just over a minute left to put the Magic ahead by eight, and grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds.

"He stepped up big," commented head coach Stan Van Gundy about Lewis' Game Four heroics. "He wanted that game, he competed hard. I thought he was outstanding."

Despite the series leading and playing at home, the Magic still know they have a lot of work to do in order to advance to the second round.

"We have to come out ready," said Dwight Howard. "The series is not over and we have to look at it that way. We have to come out ready to play, it’s going to be tough but it’s always tough, it’s the playoffs and we have to be ready."

"It’s not over," Lewis added. "Toronto is a good team and they are going to come and try to win Game Five and bring it back to Toronto."

Orlando hopes to take care of business at home on Monday night in Game Five so they don't have to travel back to Toronto for Game Six, if necessary on Thursday.

MAGIC INJURY REPORT
Tony Battie – Out, torn rotator cuff, left shoulder – underwent successful surgery on Oct. 24; will likely miss the entire season.
Brian Cook – Out, fractured third metacarpal, right hand.

TONIGHT’S OPPONENT:
First Round - Game #4 - Apr. 26 @ Toronto – Magic 106, Raptors 94: Rashard Lewis tallied playoff career-highs of 27 points and 13 rebounds, as Orlando overcame a seven-point deficit and defeated Toronto, 106-94, in Game #4 of the best-of-seven First Round NBA Playoff series at Air Canada Centre. The Magic now lead the series, 3-1. Dwight Howard tallied 19 points, 16 rebounds and a franchise playoff record eight blocks, while Jameer Nelson scored 19 points, including 12 during the fourth quarter. Chris Bosh recorded a career playoff-high 39 points and 15 rebounds for the Raptors, while T.J. Ford had 12 points, 13 assists and five boards. Orlando led 31-26 after the first quarter, but Toronto responded during the second, outscoring the Magic, 27-17, and led 53-48 at halftime. The Magic still trailed after the third quarter, 74-73, but turned things on in the final stanza. Orlando outscored Toronto during the final 12 minutes, 33-20, and closed the game with a 14-4 run. Nelson keyed the run, going a perfect 4-of-4 from the floor, including a pair of three-point buckets. The Magic were 11-of-29 from three-point range, while Toronto was just 2-of-15.

First Round - Game #3 - Apr. 24 @ Toronto – Raptors 108, Magic 94: T.J. Ford (21 points) and Jose Calderon (18 points) combined for 39 points, as Toronto defeated Orlando, 108-94, in Game #3 of the best-of-seven First Round NBA Playoff series at Air Canada Centre. Six Raptors scored in double figures, including Jason Kapono and Chris Bosh, scoring 15 points each. Hedo Turkoglu paced the Magic with a career playoff-high 26 points and Dwight Howard tallied 19 points and 12 rebounds. Toronto led for most of the contest, outscoring Orlando during the first half, 61-40 and never looked back. The Magic cut the deficit to nine points early in the fourth quarter, but could get no closer. The Raptors outrebounded Orlando, 42-34, held the Magic to 6-of-27 from beyond the three-point arc and dished out 31 assists.

First Round - Game #2 - Apr. 22 vs. Toronto – Magic 104, Raptors 103: Dwight Howard recorded his second consecutive 20-point/20-rebound contest, netting a playoff career-high-tying 29 points and grabbing 20 rebounds, as Orlando edged Toronto, 104-103, in Game #2 of the best-of-seven First Round NBA Playoff series at a sold-out Amway Arena. The Magic take a 2-0 series lead heading to Toronto. Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis each scored 18 points for Orlando. Chris Bosh scored 29 points to pace the Raptors. The Magic exploded out of the gates, leading 35-18 after the first quarter and by as many as 18 points. Toronto stormed back, outscoring Orlando during the second quarter, 39-24, and trailed 59-57 at halftime. A free throw by Carlos Delfino gave Toronto a 101-100 advantage with 1:04 left in the game. Hedo Turkoglu scored on a driving layup with 30.3 seconds to go, giving the Magic a one-point lead. Toronto had one final chance to win the game, but Bosh’s jumper was off the mark and the Magic escaped with the win.

First Round - Game #1 - Apr. 20 vs. Toronto – Magic 114, Raptors 100: Dwight Howard tallied 25 points, 22 rebounds and five blocked shots, as Orlando defeated Toronto, 114-100, in Game #1 of the best-of-seven First Round NBA Playoff series at a sold-out Amway Arena. The 22 rebounds and five blocks tied franchise playoff records and it was just the fourth 20-point/20-rebound playoff game in Magic playoff history. Jameer Nelson tallied 24 points and seven assists for the Magic, while Hedo Turkoglu netted 21. Anthony Parker paced the Raptors with 24 points and Chris Bosh added 21. Orlando exploded out of the gates, scoring 43 first quarter points and connecting on an NBA Playoff record-tying nine three-pointers to lead 43-23. Toronto would claw their way back into the game, trimming the deficit to 88-83 during the fourth quarter. However, the Magic would answer with a 10-0 run to put the game out of reach.