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Sunday, Apr. 1 5:30pm ET
Orlando beats Raptors in McGrady's return north

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TORONTO (AP) -- After being spat at and booed, Tracy McGrady strutted into a postgame news conference, saying he took pleasure in silencing Toronto Raptors fans.

Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady
Toronto's Vince Carter, left, and Orlando's Tracy McGrady share a laugh, maybe over some of the boos and hoots sent toward McGrady from the Toronto crowd.

McGrady, who left the Raptors as a free agent, scored 24 points in his first game back in Toronto and the Orlando Magic beat the Raptors 104-101 Sunday night.

"It felt good," McGrady said. "We definitely quieted the fans. I think that was the most exciting thing for me."

McGrady was unmercifully booed throughout the game. Fans brought derogatory signs and chanted even when he didn't have the ball.

"They spat at me, but they still love me," McGrady said. "If they didn't love me, they wouldn't be booing me. I'm happy for them."

Darrell Armstrong added 22 points and Pat Garrity had 20 for Orlando, which tied Toronto for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Should the teams end the year tied, Orlando holds the tiebreaker.

"To come in here, and go through all that today, was really big for myself and the team," McGrady said.

Vince Carter had 28 points and 11 assists for the Raptors, whose four-game winning streak came to an end.

Orlando's Bo Outlaw made contact with Carter as Carter attempted a potential game-tying 3-pointer with a few seconds remaining, but the officials didn't call a foul.

"The ref was right there. How can he not see that?" Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens said. "It was embarrassing. It was ludicrous."

The Magic led by as many as 15, but Carter narrowed the lead to four with a layup with 9:10 remaining in the fourth.

Orlando countered with an 11-4 run as Garrity made a 3-pointer and a three-point play, and Armstrong made a layup and a 3-pointer, giving the Magic a 95-84 lead with 5:24 left.

Carter's 3-pointer and Keon Clark's layup cut it to four with just more than a minute remaining.

Armstrong made one of two free throws with 35 seconds left.

Toronto's Chris Childs hit two free throws to cut the lead to three with 24 seconds remaining, but Garrity countered with two free throws of his own.

Carter followed with a dunk, cutting the lead to three again, and Armstrong missed both of his free-throw attempts, giving Toronto a chance to tie with 4.6 seconds left.

After official Luis Grillo's non-call on Carter, Alvin Williams' desperation 3-point attempt at the buzzer was short.

"That's an old-school ref there. He's not going to make that call," Garrity said.

McGrady said leaving Toronto was the right move.

"The fans wanted me to stay because they could have had something special with me and Vince," McGrady said. "I just felt Orlando was the place for me. My game has elevated to a whole new level."

Game notes
McGrady leads the Magic in scoring, rebounding, blocks and minutes played. He's second in assists and steals. "I don't think anyone knew he was going to be this good. I think that's why it stings more," Orlando coach Doc Rivers said. ... Fans loudly cheered the singing of Canada's national anthem. Many felt McGrady rejected Canada. ... Oakley passed Wilkens for 19th on the career list of minutes played. ... Orlando made eight of their 12 3-point shots. ... Armstrong made four of his five attempts. ... Oakley and Antonio Davis added 18 points for Toronto.

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