NBA Starting Lineups and Match Prediction - Toronto Raptors vs Orlando Magic - Game 4
Match Details:
Orlando Magic (42-40) vs Toronto Raptors (58-24)
22th April 2019, 4:30am IST
Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Head to Head (Playoffs):
Games played: 8 games
Won by Orlando Magic: 5 games
Won by Toronto Raptors: 3 games
Match Overview:
The Toronto Raptors face another game on the road at Amway Center, Florida, as they take on the Orlando Magic in the Game 4 of the playoff series. The Toronto Raptors have recovered from their Game 1 blip to come back to lead the series 2-1.
The Orlando Magic have been playing some really solid basketball in this year's playoff and giving their fans something to cheer. They have been great on the defensive end as well, not letting the Raptors push them around and still are just 1 game down in this playoff series which everyone thought will be a sweep.
The Toronto Raptors, on the other hand, have been really good in the 3 games they played against the Magic. Apart from the loss in game 1, they have come back strong and have dominated the Magic in both the games. They will look to take a 3-1 lead with a win tomorrow night as well.
Injuries:
Orlando Magic: Guard Markelle Fultz is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury. Centers Mo Bamba and Timofey Mozgov are also out indefinitely with a leg and a knee injury respectively.
Toronto Raptors: Guard Patrick McCaw is considered questionable for game 3 while forward OG Anunoby is out indefinitely with an abdomen injury. Center Chris Boucher is also day to day with a back injury.
Players to watch out for:
Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic):
The Orlando Magic had a really tumultuous season this year in the NBA, but their star center Nikola Vucevic was always there for them, performing at the highest level, something that has earned him his first All-Star call this season.
Vucevic has not been dominating this series the same way, but he has still been the best player for the Magic, averaging 13 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4 assists and 1.7 blocks in 32.3 minutes on the court.
He can explode on any given day on the court and the Raptors need to do a really good job if they want to keep him shut down for the rest of the series as well.
Last game stats: 22 points, 7-13 FG, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 3 block and 5 TOs against the Toronto Raptors
Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors):
Pascal Siakam was just one of the rotation players for the Raptors last season but has really broken out of his shell this year, becoming one of top players for the Toronto Raptors and the front runner for the Most Improved Player as well.
This year's playoffs too, Siakam has shown his quality and that his regular season was not just a one-off, averaging a solid 24.3 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists a game in 40.3 minutes on the court.
The Orlando Magic needs to keep Siakam at bay, as he has established himself as their second scoring option behind their star Kawhi Leonard. If Siakam has his way, the Raptors will move ahead to a 3-1 lead and look to finish the series at home.
Predicted Starting Lineups:
Orlando Magic: DJ Augustin (G), Evan Fournier (G), Jonathan Isaac (F), Aaron Gordon (F), Nikola Vucevic (C)
Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry (G), Danny Green (G), Kawhi Leonard (F), Pascal Siakam (F) and Marc Gasol (C)
Predicted Match Result: Toronto Raptors to beat the Orlando Magic
Even though the Orlando Magic upset the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of the playoff series, the Raptors are really unlikely to switch off and let Magic steal another game tomorrow night in Game 4.
The Raptors just have too many star players for the Magic to cope up with and the might of Kawhi, Lowry, Siakam and Gasol will be more than enough to overcome the Orlando Magic, even at home.