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Wednesday, Apr. 19 7:30pm ET
Mercer, Magic hold off Toronto | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Like they had all season, the Orlando Magic played hard if not particularly well, determined to finish on a positive note against the playoff-bound Toronto Raptors. "I'm really proud of those guys. They opened their hearts the entire year, which is always a risk," coach Doc Rivers said after a 106-100 victory enabled the rebuilding Magic to finish with a 41-41 record. "It's always easy to stay in a comfort zone where you don't get hurt, but they didn't do that. They took the chance. Obviously you wish things had gone a little bit better ... I'm just glad the season didn't end on a negative because it's been so positive." Ron Mercer scored 27 points and Darrell Armstrong had 22 as the Magic bounced back from a two-point loss to Milwaukee on Monday that eliminated them from playoff contention. Mercer made four free throws in the final minute to hold off Toronto's reserves, who played most of the second half while Raptors coach Butch Carter rested his starters for the club's first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks. Vince Carter sat out the second quarter after playing the first 10 minutes of the game, and 14-year pro Charles Oakley got the whole night off. Carter, playing an hour's drive from his hometown of Daytona Beach, returned in the third quarter and played 11 minutes before departing for good early in the fourth. He finished with 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting. Tracy McGrady and Antonio Davis led Toronto with 14 points apiece. Michael Stewart had 11 points and 11 rebounds and Haywoode Workman hit two 3-pointers and scored 10 to keep Toronto close down the stretch. The Raptors will remain in town until the weekend, practicing at the Disney Institute in preparation for the Knicks. "It's not scaring me," Carter said, looking ahead to his first playoff appearance. "It's just about focus, being mentally ready more than physically. You've got guys like Oakley and (Kevin) Willis who've been there. So they're going to prepare us as well." The Magic, which will have three first-round draft picks and about $18 million in salary cap room to pursue free agents this summer, has finished .500 or better eight consecutive seasons. "I guess that's consolation," Rivers said. "It sure felt like a consolation game, the way it was played. I said to one of the referees: `This sure is playoff intensity, isn't it? He laughed.' " Orlando pulled away for good after Toronto cut what had been a 13-point deficit to 89-87 midway through the fourth quarter. Michael Doleac, Johnny Taylor and Mercer scored during a 6-0 spurt, and the Raptors never recovered. The Magic led 52-46 at the half, shooting 48 percent and getting 14 points from Armstrong. Mercer had the hot hand in the third quarter, scoring 10 points to help Orlando go up 13 before taking an 82-72 edge into the fourth period. Game notesBen Wallace (left foot bone spur) sat out the season finale after starting the first 81 games of the season. That left Armstrong as the only Orlando player to start all 82. Chucky Atkins, Pat Garrity and Bo Outlaw joined him in playing in every game. ... Carter averaged nearly 28 points in the first three games of the season series. ... Although the Raptors qualified for the playoffs for the first time, eight of the 15 players on their roster have postseason experience. Oakley leads the way, appearing in 129 games. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Toronto Clubhouse Orlando Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 112 New York 85
Orlando 106
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