The Los Angeles Clippers attempt to rebound on the second leg of a back-to-back and the ultimate date of a four-game street swing once they go to the Orlando Magic on Monday.
Los Angeles (42-32) performed with out Kawhi Leonard (proper knee damage administration) on Sunday in a 127-122 loss at Cleveland. The Clippers trailed the Jap Convention-leading Cavaliers nearly your entire manner, regardless of runs to chop double-digit-point disparities to one-possession margins in every of the final three quarters.
Norman Powell scored 34 factors and James Harden had 24 factors, main the way in which with Leonard sidelined for the primary time since March 12.
Powell’s efficiency was his greatest individually since returning just lately from a virtually month-long absence that saved him out of 12 video games.
Earlier than the street journey, Powell informed reporters, “I am simply looking for my movement and rhythm whereas on a minutes restriction.”
The minutes restriction has been reduce progressively, and he performed practically 40 minutes in Cleveland.
The Clippers fell into eighth place within the Western Convention with the loss, tied with Minnesota in general report. Golden State leads each by a sport after its win on Sunday over San Antonio, whereas Memphis and the Los Angeles Lakers maintain two- and three-game benefits over the Clippers via Sunday.
Orlando (36-39) moved into eighth place within the Jap Convention since its 121-91 blowout of Sacramento on Saturday.
The Magic are one-half sport behind Atlanta as they jockey for essentially the most favorable of the 4 play-in spherical’s spots. Orlando and Atlanta have break up the season sequence up to now 1-1, with two extra head-to-head conferences nonetheless to return.
Within the meantime, the Magic goal to construct on their latest upturn. Saturday’s win was Orlando’s fourth within the final 5 video games. In every of the 4 wins, the NBA’s second-to-lowest-scoring offense at 105.1 factors per sport has put up 111 factors or extra.
Orlando is locked into the postseason and path just lately slumping Milwaukee by 4 1/2 video games for the final assured playoff bid.
“That is what you’re employed for all season,” Orlando’s Paolo Banchero stated of clinching at the least a play-in spot. “We have handled a variety of accidents and stuff all year long, so simply the truth that we’re in a position to be within the postseason, I do not assume anybody is taking it as a right.”
Each Banchero (25.9 factors per sport) and Franz Wagner (24.2) — Orlando’s two main scorers on the season — missed vital time as a consequence of indirect accidents. The Magic even have been with out spark-plug guard Cole Anthony in latest weeks, and he’s listed as questionable for Monday’s sport as a consequence of a toe damage.
“I’ve simply been taking my time, making an attempt to not rush it as a result of there’s simply no want,” Anthony informed the Orlando Sentinel. “I already tried to return again as soon as and it was untimely.”
The Magic backcourt has been adjusting over the previous month with Anthony sidelined and Jalen Suggs shut down for the yr with a quadriceps damage.
Anthony Black had a run of 4 straight video games scoring in double-figure scoring finish together with his eight factors towards Sacramento, however he tallied 64 factors within the earlier stretch.
–Area Stage Media