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The ex-Raptor tweaks Toronto fans after Orlando's 104-101 win.
©Associated Press
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 2, 2001
TORONTO -- After being spat at and booed, Tracy McGrady strutted into a post-game news conference, saying he took pleasure in silencing Raptors fans.
McGrady, who left town as a free agent, scored 24 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 20 for the Magic, which tied Toronto for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The Magic hold the tiebreaker advantage.
"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 ended.
Orlando's Bo Outlaw made contact with Carter as Carter attempted a potential game-tying three-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."
Armstrong made a layup and a three, giving the Magic a 95-84 lead with 5:24 left. Carter's three-pointer and Keon Clark's layup cut it to four with just over a minute left. 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 throws, giving Toronto a chance to tie with 4.6 seconds left.
After official Luis Grillo's non-call on Carter, Alvin Williams' desperation three-pointer at the buzzer was short.
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," he said. "I just felt Orlando was the place for me. My game has elevated to a whole new level."
MAGIC ARENA: The team says it is willing to pay for part of a new downtown arena and might have come up with a way to cover the team's costs: bill the fans and anyone else who uses the place, the Orlando Sentinel reported. The club, which unveils its arena plans Wednesday, is considering a 5 percent ticket surcharge that could raise $40-million for what could be a $250-million project.