In their bid to establish a lead in the Play-in Tournament rankings, the Orlando Magic are aiming to finalize a two-game triumph over the declining Toronto Raptors as they head back home on Sunday.

Currently positioned as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference standings, Orlando (39-28) arrives into the matchup with a two-game winning streak, notably defeating Toronto 113-103 on Friday.

Showing promise of their first playoff inclusion since 2020 and their best performance since the 2010-11 season, the Magic have thrived on balanced offensive contributions from their youthful core throughout the year, a strength evident in their latest victory.

Orlando showcased depth in scoring with six players reaching double digits against the Raptors, with Franz Wagner recording 19 points and Paolo Banchero adding 17 to the mix.

Now in his second season, Banchero leads the team in scoring with an average of 22.7 points per game, closely followed by the 22-year-old Wagner who maintains a 20-point average per game.

Banchero almost secured a triple-double in the prior game, amassing nine rebounds and eight assists alongside his 17 points. The rising star encountered a slow start, netting just six points in the initial half before picking up momentum after halftime.

“(Paolo) is going to continue to attack the basket,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “I think he did a good job of trying to spray and find guys. Whether or not his shots fell early, he was trying to look for other guys more than anything.”

Since their defeat against the Mavericks on Jan. 29, Orlando has secured victory in 15 of their last 20 matchups.

For the struggling Toronto Raptors (23-44), the season has taken a bleak turn with a noteworthy six-game losing streak, managing only one win since Feb. 26.

Under the leadership of first-year coach Darko Rajakovic, the Raptors are grappling with a rebuilding phase, now facing the likelihood of missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season since 2013, coupled with a dismal .343 winning percentage marking their worst record since 2010-11.

A recent positive amidst the Raptors’ struggles has been Gary Trent Jr.’s standout performances.

The 25-year-old shooting guard showcased his skill with a season-high 31 points, inclusive of seven successful 3-pointers, leading all scorers in the recent defeat. Trent had sat out the preceding two games due to a groin injury, maintaining an average of 12.7 points per game.

“We have to try to get as many wins as we can,” Trent said of his goal for the rest of the season. “Trying to contribute to winning again. We’re still fighting, but there is a bigger picture. We’re even trying to get ready for next year with little stuff we want to implement.”

One of Toronto’s key scorers this season, RJ Barrett (19.5 points per game), has missed recent games due to the tragic loss of his younger brother, Nathan, with no definitive timeline for his return.

Additionally, the Raptors have been without All-Star forward Scottie Barnes (19.9 points per game) since March 3, sidelined indefinitely due to a fracture in his left hand.

A victory for Orlando on Sunday would secure a complete three-game sweep of the Raptors this season, a feat not accomplished since the 2011-12 season.