Last season: Magic lost to Pistons in the first round of the playoffs; Raptors lost to Nets in first round of the playoffs

Overview: Last year the Toronto Raptors had a surprisingly good season, earning them the No. 3 playoff seed in the East. They promptly went out and lost their first-round series against the more experienced New Jersey Nets. This year the Magic are the No. 3 seed, hoping to avoid the first-round upset. The Raptors, meanwhile, would love to dish out some of the medicine they got a year ago.

This series features two of the top young big men in the game — Toronto's Chris Bosh and Orlando's Dwight Howard. Bosh averaged 22.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, but was even more effective against the Magic. He averaged 33 points in games against the Magic.

Howard (20.7 ppg, 14.2 rpg), meanwhile, heads a potent frontcourt. Along with Rashard Lewis (18.2 ppg) and Hedo Turkoglu (19.5 ppg), the Magic's starting big men averaged just under 60 points per game.

The Raptors may have the advantage in the backcourt. They have two capable point guards in T.J. Ford (12.1 ppg, 6.1 apg) and Jose Calderon (11.2 ppg, 8.3 apg) in addition to shooting guard Anthony Parker (12.5 ppg), who made 44 percent of his 3-point jumpers. Neither team has a great bench to rely on.

Prediction: There's a reason the Magic won 52 games and the Raptors were just .500 at 41-41. Orlando is better. Magic in five.

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Season series: Magic won, 2-1

Sunday at Orlando, 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday at Orlando, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday at Toronto, 5:30 p.m.
April 26 at Toronto, 1 p.m.
April 28 at Orlando, 5:30 p.m.*
May 1 at Toronto, TBA *
May 3 at Orlando, TBA *

* if necessary

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E-mail: lojo@desnews.com