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| 12:00 PM PT1:00 PM MT2:00 PM CT3:00 PM ET19:00 GMT3:00 12:00 PM MST2:00 PM EST23:00 UAE20:0015:00 ET1:00 PM CTNaN:� , March 18, 2023 Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California Attendance: 17,533 |
Moving up in West race, Clippers face slumping Magic
Orlando Magic at Los Angeles Clippers
- The Magic have been held to 105 or fewer points in 13 straight road games against the Clippers. That is their longest active such streak against any opponent, with their next closest streak being four straight (at Cavaliers, at Heat).
- Over their last six games, the Magic are giving up an average of 124.8 points per game. That is the most points the Magic have given up in a six-game span since giving up 127.7 points per game over a six-game span that ended in April 1990.
- Cole Anthony is averaging 15.6 points per game in eight games this month, all off the bench. Entering the weekend, there are 101 players to play in at least five games this month without a start and only Austin Reaves (15.9 PPG) is averaging more points than Anthony.
- Entering the weekend, the Clippers are shooting 13-for-21 (61.9%) in clutch time so far this month, the third-best mark in the NBA. Over that same span, they lead the NBA in clutch field goal percentage allowed, with opponents shooting 3-for-17 (17.6%) from the field.
- In eight games since the All-Star break, Kawhi Leonard is averaging 30.9 points per game on 56.8 percent shooting. He joins Elton Brand and Blake Griffin as the only Clippers in the last 40 seasons to average that many points on 55.0 percent or better shooting over an eight-game span.
- After pulling down 16 boards in his last game, Ivica Zubac is now averaging 10.1 rebounds per game this season. Zubac (10.4 PPG, 62.7% shooting) is on pace to become the second qualifying player in Clippers history to average a double-double on 60.0% shooting (DeAndre Jordan, five times).
The Los Angeles Clippers carry a four-game winning streak into a Saturday matinee as they welcome the visiting Orlando Magic, who are playing the third game of a four-game road trip.
The Clippers (37-33) improved to 4-0 on a five-game homestand Wednesday with a 134-126 win over the Golden State Warriors. Kawhi Leonard went for 30 points, Paul George recorded 24 points and seven assists, and Ivica Zubac finished with 19 points and 16 rebounds as Los Angeles' balance effectively countered a 50-point effort from the Warriors' Stephen Curry.
Russell Westbrook approached a triple-double in the win, going for 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
"That's what great players do," Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said of Westbrook, whose performance included zero turnovers. "He's getting used to playing with the guys and knowing where guys are going to be at, where the guys want the ball delivered, and just getting familiar. Like I said, it's only been nine games (since joining the Clippers roster)."
Los Angeles moved into fifth place in a hotly contested Western Conference. Through games played Thursday, just 3 1/2 games separated the Clippers in the No. 5 spot from Utah and New Orleans, the last two teams out in the race for the four play-in tournament bids.
Orlando (28-42), meanwhile, has lost ground in pursuit of the Eastern Conference's final play-in spot since dropping five of six with Thursday's 116-113 loss at Phoenix. The setback dropped the Magic to 0-2 midway through a Western Conference road swing that opened Tuesday with a 132-114 loss at San Antonio.
A positive coming out of Thursday's defeat in Phoenix was the continued strong performance of Markelle Fultz. He finished with 25 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the floor, dished nine assists and grabbed seven rebounds.
Fultz missed the first 21 games of the season with a fractured toe, but has been in the lineup every game since Nov. 30. Thursday marked his third game of 20-plus points in the month of March.
"Everyday I get out here, I feel a little bit better," Fultz said in Thursday's postgame press conference. "You're just seeing a guy who's going out there and competing and just appreciates the game and understands I don't' take this for granted.
"I'm continuing to get a chance to showcase the hard work that I'm putting in," he added. "Legs are under me better. I also have a different type of conditioning to be able to pick up and play on both ends of the floor."
Fultz's 13.8 points per game rank fourth on the Magic behind Wendell Carter Jr.'s 15.3, Franz Wagner's 18.7, and presumptive Rookie of the Year frontrunner Paolo Banchero's 20.1 points per game.
Banchero led the Magic to a 116-111 overtime win over the Clippers when the teams last met on Dec. 7. The rookie scored 23 points while Los Angeles' combination of Leonard and George were limited to a total of 25 points.
--Field Level Media
Updated March 17, 2023
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