Toronto Raptors Point to Referees for 121-114 NBA Cup Loss to Orlando Magic

The Toronto Raptors suffered a 121-114 loss against the Orlando Magic in their first NBA Cup game of the new year. After a 30-point win just two days prior, the Magic starters were able to make a complete turnaround without star forward Paolo Banchero or starting point guard Jalen Suggs. Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Wendell Carter Jr., and Anthony Black combined for 91 points, 20 rebounds, and 28 assists on 27-for-55 shooting. 

Playing without seven-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors knew they would need to have several players make up for his incredible offensive production. Franchise cornerstone Scottie Barnes decided it was time to show his true capabilities, setting a new career-high in points with 41, to match five rebounds and five assists. 

Unfortunately for Barnes and the Raptors, the calls simply weren’t going their way. With as physical of a brand of basketball as the two-time All-Star plays with, he is expected to find his way to the free-throw line more often than most. He finished the contest with just three attempts at the stripe, an astoundingly low amount given his 34 field goal attempts. The Raptors shot just 15 free throws as a team, while the four aforementioned Magic starters shot 29 free throws alone. 

Head coach Darko Rajakovic was deliberate in expressing his frustration with the media postgame.

“For me, a player that gets 34 shots in a game, who scores 41 points and goes to the free throw line 3 times, that’s kinda [expletive] to be honest with you,” said Rajakovic.

Barnes was more reserved in his comments on the officiating, but had very similar emotions.

“I think I did a great job of going downhill, being aggressive,” said Barnes. “[I] definitely think I could’ve gotten to the free-throw line more. I think being that aggressive and only shooting three free throws is kinda crazy, but just wasn’t going our way. It is what it is … That’s enough for me to say. I’m raging on the inside right now, but it is what it is.”

A lot was made of the scoreless outing against the Minnesota Timberwolves for the former No. 4 pick in the 2021 NBA draft. He’s on a mission this year to prove that it shouldn’t even be a consideration for him to miss the All-NBA teams this year. In an attempt to restore this campaign, he has now totaled 69 points on 58.8% shooting over his last two games. 

If Toronto wants to continue to win games while Leonard nurses his left knee swelling, there needs to be more offensive production across the board. RJ Barrett, who scored at least 20 points in each of the first four games, had his first underwhelming performance of the season with nine points and five turnovers on 3-for-10 shooting. Third-year guard Ja’Kobe Walter, who was widely expected to take a significant leap this season, found himself lost in translation as he only attempted five field goals in the contest. 

It’s always going to be difficult to get the entire rotation to make a big impact on offense. That’s especially true when taking into account the Raptors' very shaky three-point shooting. Through the first three games, Toronto ranked 29th in the NBA in three-point percentage, but in the last two games against Orlando, the Raptors have shot 43% and 41%, respectively. If they can maintain this high level shooting, while getting the supporting starters back on track, Toronto should have a great chance to compete with the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night at 10 PM EDT.