Game 27: Orlando Magic (11-15) @ Los Angeles Clippers (18-7) 12/14 7:00PM ET
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 11:21 pm
The Clippers have won just four of their past nine games, facing injuries and the usual bumps of an 82-game season as they prepare to visit the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night.
The Magic entered last week with the third best defense in the league by defensive rating. This came as they won three of the first four games in a five-game road trip.
The defense slipped last week, though. Orlando played four games in five nights to complete an eight-games-in-12-days stretch and struggled defensively. The Magic fell to 12th in the league in a matter of a week, giving up 100 points in all four games. It was the first time they had allowed 100 points in consecutive games since mid-November.
The Magic did not quite get their defense under control and back to an elite level in a 131-120 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. But, with just a three-point lead entering the fourth quarter, the Magic allowed just 24 points in the final 12 minutes to get some breathing room and protect their lead.
For them, it will take more than a quarter of strong defense to hold off the star-powered Clippers as the Magic still seek some consistency and return to form.
Projected Starters
Orlando Magic
D.J. Augustin
Evan Fournier
Aaron Gordon
Serge Ibaka
Bismack Biyombo
Los Angeles Clippers
Chris Paul
J.J. Redick
Luc Mbah a Moute
Blake Griffin
DeAndre Jordan
Injuries
LA Clippers
Austin Rivers, PG Out
Luc Mbah a Moute, PF Out
Orlando Magic
Nikola Vucevic, C Out
Sorry for the quick put together and no graphics.....I don't do this often but didn't see one don't with less than an hour before tip. Lets GO!
The Magic entered last week with the third best defense in the league by defensive rating. This came as they won three of the first four games in a five-game road trip.
The defense slipped last week, though. Orlando played four games in five nights to complete an eight-games-in-12-days stretch and struggled defensively. The Magic fell to 12th in the league in a matter of a week, giving up 100 points in all four games. It was the first time they had allowed 100 points in consecutive games since mid-November.
The Magic did not quite get their defense under control and back to an elite level in a 131-120 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. But, with just a three-point lead entering the fourth quarter, the Magic allowed just 24 points in the final 12 minutes to get some breathing room and protect their lead.
For them, it will take more than a quarter of strong defense to hold off the star-powered Clippers as the Magic still seek some consistency and return to form.
Projected Starters
Orlando Magic
D.J. Augustin
Evan Fournier
Aaron Gordon
Serge Ibaka
Bismack Biyombo
Los Angeles Clippers
Chris Paul
J.J. Redick
Luc Mbah a Moute
Blake Griffin
DeAndre Jordan
Injuries
LA Clippers
Austin Rivers, PG Out
Luc Mbah a Moute, PF Out
Orlando Magic
Nikola Vucevic, C Out
Sorry for the quick put together and no graphics.....I don't do this often but didn't see one don't with less than an hour before tip. Lets GO!