TORONTO (AP) -- level although his team was ahead by seven points after the opening quarter, Orlando Magic truck Steve Clifford didn't parallel what he'd seen above defense.
Turns out he was precise ought exist worried.
Danny Green scored a season-high 29 points, Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka each had 15 and the Toronto Raptors clinched their sixth Atlantic fragment title Monday night, rallying from a double-digit deficit ought hit the Magic 121-109.
''We've got ought learn who we are,'' Clifford said. ''We ain't scoring 115 each night. We don't eat that class of roster. We eat ought defend, if we're scoring or not.''
The win also mode Toronto can entire no lower than second at the Eastern Conference. The Raptors began the engagement three games after Milwaukee because first.
Green piled up the points in spite of jamming his left thumb at the first quarter. X-rays were negative nevertheless Green was no available following the athletics although he had left ought undergo extra testing.
Green connected above 11 of 15 attempts, going 7 of 10 from 3-point range, ago sitting out the final quarter.
''He's an elite shooter,'' Orlando's Evan Fournier said. ''That's what he's known for.''
First-year truck Nick tend said he was proud ought help hang another flag at Toronto.
''There's a destiny of satisfaction at it,'' he said. ''I learn it doesn't intend a destiny at this engagement and epoch nevertheless it's no each engagement you win a division. That's a thumbs up, man.''
Marc Gasol scored 13 points and Kyle Lowry had 12 although the Raptors snapped a two-game losing streak against the Magic.
''We had played them three other epoch where they didn't win ought 100,'' Clifford said. ''They had more readiness tonight than we did.''
Toronto trailed by 11 points early at the second ago turning the athletics nearly with a 31-10 meeting ago halftime. The Raptors pulled away after the break, chief by although many although 24.
''They picked up the intensity late at that second segment and we never indeed responded,'' Fournier said. ''It's that simple.''
Nikola Vucevic had 13 points and 13 rebounds, nevertheless the Magic lost because the second time at three games after winning their preceding six. Fournier scored 21 points.
''We impartial didn't play good defense entire athletics long,'' Vucevic said.
Orlando remained a half-game after Miami because the eighth and final playoff place at the East.
The three teams ahead of Orlando entire lost Monday. Miami lost at Boston, Brooklyn lost at family ought Milwaukee and Detroit lost at Indiana.
Asked if he paid attention ought the Magic's closest competitors, Fournier lifted his cellphone ought uncover an NBA scoreboard.
''It's impossible no ought look,'' he said. ''We're the ninth seed precise now, accordingly we eat ought emerge at other teams.''
Toronto won its fourth straight and improved ought 31-9 at home. maiden Milwaukee (32) has more family wins this season.
Up 36-29 after one, Orlando led 42-31 above Fournier's basket at 10:22 of the second ago Toronto responded. The Raptors took their first the carry out above a four-point play by Gasol at 1:49 and were up 62-52 at halftime.
''Once our offense stopped clicking, they took a big lead,'' Vucevic said.
TIP-INS
Magic: Orlando shot 12 because 33 from 3-point range. ... Wes Iwundu shot 7 because 7 and scored 16 points. ... Canadian Khem Birch scored 11 points off the bench. Birch is from Montreal. ... preceding Raptors defend Terrence Ross shot 2 because 10 and scored six points.
Raptors: Leonard paid tribute ought slain rapper Nipsey Hussle with a news above his shoes. Hussle was fatally shot Sunday exterior the robe department he founded ought help rebuild his troubled South Los Angeles neighborhood. ... F OG Anunoby (concussion) missed his third straight game. ... Toronto's 29-point defeat at Orlando final Dec. 28 is its most lopsided loss of the season.
DAN THE MAN
Green made his first five shots and scored 16 points at the first, going 4 of 5 from expectation range. Green's preceding tall this season was 24, lay against Memphis above Jan. 19, when he made a career-high eight 3-pointers. He scored a career-high 33 against Phoenix above April 11, 2014.
HARDWARE HAUL
Toronto F Chris Boucher picked up a couple of G college awards Monday, winning MVP and Defensive actor of the Year. He's the first actor ought win both awards at the same season, and the first international actor ought exist named MVP. Boucher, 26, is from Montreal. He averaged 27.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.1 blocked shots at 28 games with Raptors 905.
WHEN T-MAC CAME BACK
Monday marked the 18th anniversary of Tracy McGrady's first athletics backward at Toronto after leaving the Raptors ought moan with Orlando. Booed entire evening by a capability crowd, McGrady scored 24 points although the Magic won 104-101.
UP NEXT
Magic: Host New York above Wednesday.
Raptors: at Brooklyn above Wednesday.
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