All the Magic have to do is keep going with their strengths -- Dwight Howard in the middle and three-point shooting -- to make sure they maintain the role of favorites in the first-round playoff series against the Toronto Raptors.
The Magic won their first playoff game since 2003 -- a Game 4 win over Detroit in the first round -- when they beat the Raptors in Game 1 Sunday afternoon. Game 2 is set for Tuesday night in Orlando before the series moves to Toronto for Game 3.
The Magic, the No. 3 seed, are trying to win their first playoff series since they beat the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinal round in 1996.
It's been a long time coming. Not since the days of Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway have they tasted the second round.
The Raptors, the No. 6 seed, gave little indication they can handle either Howard in the middle, or the three-point barrage the Magic used in Game 1.
MAGIC 114, RAPTORS 100: Dwight Howard came up huge -- 25 points, 22 rebounds and five blocked shots -- to lead the Magic to a surprisingly easy Game 1 victory over the Toronto Raptors Sunday afternoon.
The Magic used a fast start -- 43 points in the first quarter -- to open a lead they never lost. They led by as many as 24 points in the second quarter, forcing the Raptors to play from behind all game. They never got closer than five points in the second half.
The Magic also got 24 points and seven assists from point guard Jameer Nelson. Hedo Turkoglu had 21 points, six rebounds and six assists.
The Magic made nine of 11 three-pointers in the first quarter and 16 of 20 shots in those first 12 minutes, setting a tone that really never changed.
The Raptors struggled offensively, hitting only 32 of 85 shots. They also trailed the Magic 42-35 in rebounding. The Magic outscored the Raptors 40-26 in the paint.
