Bosh’s big night carries Raptors over Magic

T.J. Ford scored 16 points and tallied 12 assists for Toronto, which snapped a two-game losing streak and extended its lead in the Atlantic Division to six games over idle New Jersey. Juan Dixon finished with 15 points and seven boards for the Raptors.

Grant Hill scored 24 points to lead the Magic, who have lost five of seven and stayed locked in a tie with Indiana for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Indiana also fell on Wednesday, losing 90-72 to San Antonio.

Dwight Howard scored 17 points and grabbed 12 boards for the Magic, and Jameer Nelson added 15 points.

Toronto extended its lead to 74-63 with a 7-0 run to start the fourth quarter. The Raptors were able to keep the Magic at arm’s length for the rest of the game, until Nelson hit back-to-back threes in the last minute, the second trey pulling Orlando to within 88-84 with 20.9 seconds left.

That was as close as the Magic would get, though, as Dixon made four free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

The Raptors opened the second half with an 11-3 run, with a Bosh free throw boosting the Toronto lead to 56-43 with 6:29 left in the third quarter. Orlando came back with eight straight of its own, pulling to within 56-51 on two Hill free throws with 5:05 left. The Raptors held off the Orlando surge, though, and took a 67-63 lead into the final 12 minutes.

Toronto scored the first seven points of the game, and led 10-2 after Morris Peterson converted a three-point play with 7:52 left in the first quarter. Toronto held a 24-17 lead entering the second quarter.

Toronto stretched its lead out to 33-22 after a Dixon finger roll with 8:44 left in the half, but the Magic scored seven straight to cut the lead to 33-30.

Toronto held a 45-40 lead at the break.

Game Notes

Raptors rookie forward Andrea Bargnani underwent successful surgery Wednesday for a non-perforated acute appendicitis. Bargnani is expected to be released from the hospital in a few days, but no timetable has been set for his return...Toronto outrebounded the Magic 55-38, setting a season-high in rebounds.