Clippers Edge Out Magic in Defensive Battle
INGLEWOOD – The Los Angeles Clippers triumphed over the Orlando Magic, taking a hard-fought 104-93 victory at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday night. Both teams, known for their formidable defenses, engaged in a first half marked by a back-and-forth struggle, with the Clippers edging out at 57-54 by halftime.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue anticipated a defensive "tug of war," and the game lived up to that forecast. Despite the Magic’s second-best defensive rank, the Clippers managed to harness moments of offensive efficiency, particularly leveraging a stretch of poor shooting from their opponents. The Magic struggled with just 44% shooting from the field and only 22.9% from three-point range.
James Harden led the Clippers with 24 points, complemented by Ivica Zubac’s double-double (17 points, 12 rebounds), and Amir Coffey’s contribution of 18 points filling in for the injured Norman Powell. The Clippers shot 49.4% overall, emphasizing their ability to capitalize on the Magic’s mistakes despite committing 25 turnovers, which resulted in 25 points for Orlando.
Magic standout Franz Wagner was limited to just six points in the first half but finished the game with 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Anthony Black led the Magic scoring with 17 points off the bench, while Jalen Suggs added 16.
Lue expressed concern about the turnovers, highlighting a persistent issue for the Clippers. “To win a game is great, but we got to get better. We can’t continue to keep coming and talking about the same thing every single night,” he stated, acknowledging the need for a collective effort as the team navigates injuries in its lineup.
This victory marks the Clippers’ third consecutive win this week and their sixth in a row at home, improving their record to 9-7.
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