TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors dispatched the Orlando Magic in record time, checking the first box of what the team hopes is a long playoff run.
Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points as Toronto throttled Orlando 115-96 on Tuesday, winning an opening-round playoff series in five games for the first time in franchise history.
Toronto will face the winner of the Philadelphia and Brooklyn series. The Sixers took a 3-1 lead into Tuesday’s game.
Pascal Siakam scored 24 points for the Raptors, who led by as many as 37 points in the dying minutes. Kyle Lowry had 12 of his 14 points in the first quarter and doled out nine assists, Norman Powell chipped in with 11 points and Serge Ibaka finished with 10.
D.J. Augustin led Orlando with 15 points.
WATCH: Raptors’ fans and head coach react to Game 5 win.
Lowry and the Raptors clearly had no interest in flying back to Orlando for a Game 6.
Coming off a pair of victories on the Magic’s Amway Center court, Lowry scored the team’s first nine points and the Raptors pounced on the overmatched Magic from the opening tip.
The Magic were virtual spectators as Toronto sprinted to a 24-point lead late in the first quarter.
The team’s 19 assists on 23 made field goals in the first half was a post-season franchise record.
Comments