ORLANDO, Fla. – DeMar DeRozan swished a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer as the Toronto Raptors fought off a late-game charge by the Orlando Magic to earn a 97-95 victory Thursday night.
It was a wild offensive night on both ends, featuring 12 lead changes and 12 players reaching double figures.
DeRozan led Toronto with 22 points, followed by Amir Johnson with 21 points and 10 rebounds. It was Johnson’s sixth double-double of the season.
The victory gave the Raptors a four-game season sweep of the Magic, who dropped their fourth game in a row.
Nikola Vucevic led Orlando with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Arron Afflalo added 16 points and Glen Davis had 15.
The Magic have lost 15 of their last 17 overall. They host Detroit on Sunday.
NOTES
SPURS: Coach Gregg Popovich and forward Tim Duncan will miss a second straight game after the ailing duo didn’t make the trip for Friday night’s game at Dallas.
Popovich stayed home sick and Duncan sat on the bench with a sore left knee Wednesday night during San Antonio’s 106-102 victory against New Orleans. Longtime assistant coach Mike Budenholzer will again take the helm against the Mavericks.
CAVALIERS: Newly acquired guard Josh Selby has been sent to Cleveland’s Canton affiliate in the NBA Development League. Selby joined the Cavs on Tuesday in the trade from Memphis along with center Marreese Speights, guard Wayne Ellington and a future first-round draft pick. Cleveland sent forward Jon Leuer to the Grizzlies.
KINGS: The Sacramento Bee reported that a bankruptcy trustee who controls 7 percent of the Kings said the team’s limited partners are being denied their legal right to match a Seattle group’s purchase offer for the team.
The Bee reported that the trustee claims the limited partners have a “right of first refusal to buy the club” and that it could present a significant legal challenge in the efforts of the current owners, the Maloof family, to sell the team to the group from Seattle.
“It’s going to create a little bit more mess up in Seattle,” said Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. “It’s mucking it up a little bit.”
HORNETS: The New Orleans Hornets announced they are going ahead with changing their name to the Pelicans. The NBA is expected to expedite the change at the start of next season.
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