RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Orlando was executing on offense for the entire game, but it took a strong defensive effort in the second half for the Magic to shake off the Toronto Raptors.

The Magic held the Raptors to just 27 percent shooting in the second half, allowing 16 points in both the third and fourth quarters to erase an 11-point halftime deficit and claim a 112-98 victory at the Orlando Arena.

	Orlando's John Amaechi drives toward the basket against Toronto's Kevin Willis on Friday.

Down 66-55 at the break, Orlando Coach Doc Rivers was actually pleased with his team's first half performance, making only minor changes, primarily an increase in his club's defensive intensity.

"At halftime, I told them they were playing great," Rivers said. "We were down 11 points, but we were executing well and they were just making all their shots. We were getting everything we wanted offensively, but we weren't getting stops.

"I just told them we'd have to really get after it defensively and keep our offensive execution sharp."

Magic point guards Darrell Armstrong and Chucky Atkins combined for 23 points in the second half after being held to six in the first.

"There was just a big difference in the way we played. Doc didn't want anyone getting down on themselves," Atkins said. "We just stuck with it. It was definitely two different halves."

Armstrong, Orlando's leading scorer averaging 18.1 per game, was held scoreless during the first half, scoring his first points on a 3-pointer which opened the second half scoring. He ended up with 13 points, all in the third, and a team-high eight assists.

After Armstrong's first 3-pointer, the Magic proceeded to go on a game-tying 15-4 run, to tie the score at 70 on consecutive baskets by forward Monty Williams.

Armstrong didn't play in the fourth quarter, as Rivers went with Atkins for the final 12 minutes, playing the hot man and electing to rest Armstrong for tomorrow night's game at Chicago.

"It's fun to sit on the sidelines and know when you go out that the rest of the guys can pick it up," Armstrong said. "Our second team is strong. It has been all year."

Game notes
Orlando Magic forward Ben Wallace left the game with a sprained left ankle with 3:23 remaining in the third quarter. Wallace had a season high 12 points and 14 rebounds before the injury. X-rays were negative, however, and Wallace is listed as day-to-day. ... Toronto connected on 51 percent of its shots in the first half, but made just 27 percent in the second half.