Raptors 905 104, Lakeland Magic 105 | Box Score
Two-ways: Jordan Loyd (905), Troy Caupain (Magic)
Assignment: Chris Boucher, Melvin Frazier Jr. (Magic)
With playoff seeding implications on the line, the third place Raptors 905 entered the night exactly one game behind second place Lakeland Magic in a first of two back-to-back mini-series with the Magic to wrap up the regular season.
Chris Boucher scored a game-high 24 points along with 13 rebounds and 3 blocks. Jordan Loyd added 22 points on the night as well as 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Magic two-way player scored a team-high 23 points and recorded 11 assists on the night. Orlando Magic assignment player Melvin Frazier Jr. had 21 points and 7 rebounds.
Boucher’s first basket and 3-pointer of the game came late in the first quarter, giving the 905 also its first lead of the game at 18-16. With less than a minute remaining in the quarter, Boucher waived off Jordan Howard as he brought the ball up the court and then pulled up for his third trey of the period, giving him 11 points in the first quarter as the Raptors led 28-23.
A fast break dish and layup from Loyd to Boucher put the 905 up 52-44 with a minute left in the half, giving Boucher 18 first half points. Loyd then hit a tough mid-range shot in a 2-for-1 scenario, and about 30 seconds nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to close out the first half with a 57-46 905 lead.
Josh Adams’s third 3-pointer of the third quarter gave the 905 its largest lead of the game at 70-54 about four minutes into the period, and the treys didn’t stop there for the 905 as they nailed 8 of 10 in the quarter from long-range, including makes from Boucher, Duane Notice, Rodney Pryor and Jordan Howard.
The 905 headed into the final frame with an 89-80 lead, and the Magic continued to try to shoot their way back into the game but with little success at that point. Loyd sank a step-back 3-pointer to help the 905 grow the lead back to 14 points with a little over six minutes left in the game but the Magic stepped on the gas pedal after that.
A John Petrucelli driving layup helped spark a 14-3 run for the Magic to make it a 101-98 game with 1:32 remaining in the game. Moments later, Adams missed a 3-pointer and the Magic capitalized with Frazier Jr. driving floater, giving Lakeland its first lead since late in the first quarter.
After Adams ratted in a 3-pointer off of an offensive rebound for the 905 to tie the game at 104-104, the Magic called a timeout with 8.8 seconds left in the game. Guarding Caupain posting up on the left block with the clock winding down, Notice was called for a foul. Caupain nailed the first free throw, but the second rimmed out. However it was enough to complete the Magic fourth quarter comeback, helping Lakeland clinch the second seed in the eastern conference.
Notes:
- 905 Two-Way Notes
- Jordan Loyd scored 22 points (7-17 FG, 4-7 3-pt, 4-6 FT), 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Loyd made some ridiculous one-on-one shots tonight, including tough fadeaway near the end of the first quarter, and then a turnaround Dirk-fadeaway towards the end of the third quarter. Mid-way through the fourth quarter, Loyd hit a step-back 3-pointer that came right out of the James Harden playbook.
- 905 Assignment Notes
- Chris Boucher had 24 points (9-17 FG, 6-11 3-PT), 13 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots. The confidence that Boucher exudes during Toronto Raptor games is something that he’s always done with his time with the 905. And Boucher was feeling it in the first quarter from downtown, nailing 3 of 3 from long range. Boucher finished with six 3-pointers on the night.
- Other 905 notes:
- Wade Baldwin IV after leaving the previous game with what looked like a hand-related injury, the 905 announced that Baldwin IV “will miss the last two games of the regular season due to a dislocated index and pinky finger on his left hand. He will be re-evaluated on Monday.”
- Magic Two-Way Notes
- Troy Caupain nearly notched a triple double for Lakeland, recording 23 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds.
- Vipers Assignment Notes
- Melvin Frazier Jr. scored 21 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. The rookie out of Tulane University has played in 9 games for the parent club Orlando Magic this year, averaging 1.4 points in 4.4 minutes.
- Admin note
- The 905 play again at home on Sunday. Raptors Republic readers can get a discount on tickets using the code REPUBLIC905.
