Field Level Media
Apr 16, 2019
Kawhi Leonard scored 37 points on 15-for-22 shooting from the field, and the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Orlando Magic 111-82 Tuesday night to even their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series at one game apiece.
Pascal Siakam added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors, who never trailed. Kyle Lowry contributed 22 points and seven assists for Toronto while Serge Ibaka chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Aaron Gordon scored 20 points for the Magic, who split the regular-season series 2-2 with the Raptors. Terrence Ross added 15 points for Orlando while Evan Fournier scored 10 points.
The best-of-seven series moves to Orlando for the next two games, Friday and Sunday.
The Raptors were ahead by 12 points at halftime and took a 24-point lead into the fourth quarter.
The margin increased to 28 points on Lowry's layup with 9:57 to play in the game. Ibaka's two free throws soon bumped the lead to 30. Norman Powell's jumper had the lead at 34 with 2:51 remaining.
Toronto scored the first 11 points of the game and led 26-18 after the first quarter.
The Raptors worked the gap to 13 points on Leonard's layup with 8:28 remaining in the first half.
The Magic could not get closer than 10 points, and when Siakam made a dunk after a Marc Gasol steal, the Raptors led by 14 points with 2:56 to play in the second quarter.
Two free throws by Siakam 29 seconds later had the lead up to 16.
The Raptors led 51-39 at halftime.
Leonard had 17 first-half points and Lowry, who was held without a point in Game 1, had 15. Ross had 15 first-half points for Orlando.
Siakam's layup with 8:37 to play in the third quarter gave the Raptors a 19-point lead.
Another layup by Siakam, who also converted the free throw, stretched Toronto's advantage to 22 points with 6:31 remaining in the third.
Powell made a layup as time expired in the third quarter to give the Raptors a 90-66 lead.
--Field Level Media