The NBA Cup tournament kicks off tonight and the Toronto Raptors will be playing against the Orlando Magic for the second game in a row as they begin their quest for the cup. Toronto dismantled Orlando in their last matchup, in what was a defensive masterclass, so tonight they will try to put the same squeeze on Orlando and hopefully get the same result.
Raptors outlook
Record: 3-1 (4th in Eastern Conference)
Offensive Rating: 112.4 (13th)
The Toronto Raptors bread and butter this season has been their defense. They have been at the top of the league in deflections at 26 per game they overwhelm offenses with their size and just overall activity, and with all the injuries that the Orlando Magic have faced to some of their lead handlers, it fits right into what Toronto wants to do defensively.
Orlando does not have a very large paint presence on the defensive end, Wendell Carter Jr is a tad undersized for his position so this allows Toronto to constantly get to the paint with RJ Barrett, and Scottie Barnes. Orlando is still facing the same injuries they were in the last matchup so long as Toronto still smothers Wagner and keeps up the defensive intensity, they should win this game and begin the NBA Cup tournament 1-0.
Defensive Rating: 97.9 (1st)
Net Rating: 14.6 (1st)
Raptors previous results
Vs Magic 129-99 W
@ Timberwolves 117-94 L
@ Wizards 112-102 W
Magic outlook
Record: 1-3 (11th in Eastern Conference)
Offensive Rating: 104.4 (29th)
Defensive Rating: 115.2 (22nd)
Net Rating: -10.8 (27th)
Magic previous results:
@ Raptors 129-99 W
@ Knicks 111-102 W
vs Timberwolves 115-93 L
The Orlando Magic have been faced with a slew of injuries in this young season, with Jalen Suggs and Paolo Banchero being sidelined for extended time, and this has caused them to try to elevate some of their younger players to fill in those gaps. They take a huge creation and scoring dip with Banchero out and their perimeter defense takes a blow with SUggs being out as well. They have to lean on their lone star in Franz Wagner, but Toronto has the defenders to crowd him and make him give up the ball, as we saw they did to him last game when they limited him to 15 points on 36 percent shooting.
In order to win tonight, Orlando would need a much better game from Wagner, and they would need Desmond Bane to get hot as well. With the Raptors being so aggressive on the ball on defense, it does open up some opportunities for threes, so it would take Orlando taking advantage of that to pull out the upset victory tonight.
Game Info
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. ET
Television: TSN / TSN+
Radio: Sportsnet 590
Venue: Scotiabank Arena
Starting Lineups (Projected)
Orlando Magic
PG: Anthony Black
SG: Jase Richardson
SF: Desmond Bane
PF: Franz Wagner
C: Wendell Carter Jr.
Toronto Raptors
PG: Immanuel Quickley
SG: RJ Barrett
SF: Ja’Kobe Walter
PF: Scottie Barnes
C: Jakob Poeltl
Injury Report
Toronto Raptors
Nate Bittle – Out (Right Foot Avulsion Fracture)
Malachi Smith – Out (G-League Two-Way)
Kawhi Leonard – Out (Left Knee Effusion/Swelling)
Orlando Magic
Paolo Banchero – Out (Right Low-Grade Ankle Sprain)
Jonathan Isaac – Out (Left Knee Injury Management)
Izaiyah Nelson – Out (Left Ankle Injury Recovery)
Noah Pendah – Out (Right Partially Torn Hamstring)
Jalen Suggs – Out (Right Knee Contusion/Bone Bruise)
