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TORONTO - The Magic isn't the worst team in the East anymore.
Led by Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard and new starting point guard Rod Strickland, Orlando won its third in a row on Sunday, 104-93 over the Raptors.
The Magic, two weeks removed from a 19-game losing streak, improved to 7-21, and is percentage points ahead of the Hawks (7-22). McGrady, who scored 29, credits Strickland for the turnaround. Orlando is 3-0 since he became starter.
"He's doing everything for us. We have a solid veteran point guard. He's the reason why we're playing so well," he said. "Thank God we are in the East."
Strickland had 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Howard had a double double with 20 points and 12 rebounds, as did Drew Gooden with 14 and 14.
"I told the coaches when I got here that we just need that one win," said Strickland, who signed Nov. 25. "When you lose that many games it's tough. You have to lack confidence to go through that, but winning breeds confidence."
Donyell Marshall had 19 points and 19 rebounds for the Raptors, who have lost five of six. Vince Carter scored 17.
"We didn't play hard," Toronto coach Kevin O'Neill said. "We're very poor defensively right now. Inside we're getting beat up."
Toronto struggled with Orlando's zone defense.
"It's the worst part of the game right now. It's something that should have never been put in the NBA," Carter said.
McGrady, a former Raptor, was booed throughout by the sellout crowd of 19,800.