Raptors clinch Atlantic Division after rallying past Magic

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives between Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) and center Khem Birch (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto on Monday, April 1, 2019. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO  — Even though his team was ahead by seven points after the opening quarter, Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford didn’t like what he’d seen on defense.

Turns out he was right to be 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 Division title Monday night, rallying from a double-digit deficit to beat the Magic 121-109.

“We’ve got to know who we are,” Clifford said. “We ain’t scoring 115 every night. We don’t have that kind of roster. We have to defend, whether we’re scoring or not.”

The win also means Toronto can finish no lower than second in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors began the day three games behind Milwaukee for first.

Green piled up the points despite jamming his left thumb in the first quarter. X-rays were negative but Green was not available following the game because he had left to undergo additional testing.

Green connected on 11 of 15 attempts, going 7 of 10 from 3-point range, before sitting out the final quarter.

“He’s an elite shooter,” Orlando’s Evan Fournier said. “That’s what he’s known for.”

First-year coach Nick Nurse said he was proud to help hang another banner in Toronto.

“There’s a lot of satisfaction in it,” he said. “I know it doesn’t mean a lot in this day and age but it’s not every day you win a division. That’s a thumbs up, man.”

Marc Gasol scored 13 points and Kyle Lowry had 12 as the Raptors snapped a two-game losing streak against the Magic.

“We had played them three other times where they didn’t get to 100,” Clifford said. “They had more readiness tonight than we did.”

Toronto trailed by 11 points early in the second before turning the game around with a 31-10 rally before halftime. The Raptors pulled away after the break, leading by as many as 24.

“They picked up the intensity late in that second quarter and we never really responded,” Fournier said. “It’s that simple.”

Nikola Vucevic had 13 points and 13 rebounds, but the Magic lost for the second time in three games after winning their previous six. Fournier scored 21 points.

“We just didn’t play good defense all game long,” Vucevic said.

Orlando remained a half-game behind Miami for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

The three teams ahead of Orlando all lost Monday. Miami lost at Boston, Brooklyn lost at home to Milwaukee and Detroit lost at Indiana.

Asked whether he paid attention to the Magic’s closest competitors, Fournier lifted his cellphone to reveal an NBA scoreboard.

“It’s impossible not to look,” he said. “We’re the ninth seed right now, so we have to look at other teams.”

Toronto won its fourth straight and improved to 31-9 at home. Only Milwaukee (32) has more home wins this season.

Up 36-29 after one, Orlando led 42-31 on Fournier’s basket at 10:22 of the second before Toronto responded. The Raptors took their first the lead on 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 for 33 from 3-point range. … Wes Iwundu shot 7 for 7 and scored 16 points. … Canadian Khem Birch scored 11 points off the bench. Birch is from Montreal. … Former Raptors guard Terrence Ross shot 2 for 10 and scored six points.

Raptors: Leonard paid tribute to slain rapper Nipsey Hussle with a message on his shoes. Hussle was fatally shot Sunday outside the clothing store he founded to help rebuild his troubled South Los Angeles neighborhood. … F OG Anunoby (concussion) missed his third straight game. … Toronto’s 29-point defeat at Orlando last Dec. 28 is its most lopsided loss of the season.

DAN THE MAN

Green made his first five shots and scored 16 points in the first, going 4 of 5 from long range. Green’s previous high this season was 24, set against Memphis on Jan. 19, when he made a career-high eight 3-pointers. He scored a career-high 33 against Phoenix on April 11, 2014.

HARDWARE HAUL

Toronto F Chris Boucher picked up a pair of G League awards Monday, winning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. He’s the first player to win both awards in the same season, and the first international player to be named MVP. Boucher, 26, is from Montreal. He averaged 27.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.1 blocked shots in 28 games with Raptors 905.

WHEN T-MAC CAME BACK

Monday marked the 18th anniversary of Tracy McGrady’s first game back in Toronto after leaving the Raptors to sign with Orlando. Booed all night by a capacity crowd, McGrady scored 24 points as the Magic won 104-101.

UP NEXT

Magic: Host New York on Wednesday.

Raptors: At Brooklyn on Wednesday.