Spokesman-Review
National Basketball Association
Orlando 103, L.A. Clippers 96
When: 10:00 PM ET, Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Officials: #88 Matt Kallio, #55 Bill Kennedy, #29 Mark Lindsay
Attendance: N/A

The Los Angeles Clippers let one slip away at home Tuesday against the Orlando Magic.

The Clippers led by as many as 16 points and were up by seven with 2:39 to play, but the inspired Magic rallied for a 103-96 win.

Orlando's Terrence Ross tied the game at 93-all with 1:46 left on two made free throws. Ross played in his first game since March 14 after missing seven contests with right knee soreness. He finished with 15 points in 26 minutes.

After a Reggie Jackson miss for the Clippers, the Magic took their first lead of the game on the ensuing possession, a Wendell Carter Jr. tip-in.

Terence Mann hit a 3-pointer from the corner to pull the Clippers to within 97-96 with 25.5 seconds left. However, Orlando's Michael Carter-Williams made two free throws to give his team a three-point lead.

The Clippers' Jackson and Kawhi Leonard missed 3-point attempts to tie it, with both shots bouncing off the rim. Carter-Williams then corralled a loose ball that bounced off Leonard's foot, ran down the floor and punctuated the victory with a rim-rattling dunk.

Leonard led Los Angeles with 28 points and added five rebounds and five assists. Jackson had 15 points and seven assists. Ivica Zubac contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds while Luke Kennard scored 17 points.

Chuma Okeke paced the Magic with 18 points while Mo Bamba added 12 points and eight rebounds. Otto Porter Jr. contributed 13 points and seven rebounds, and Carter had 11 points.

The Magic avoided losing their second consecutive game at Los Angeles after falling 96-93 to the Lakers on Sunday. Orlando had lost 13 of its past 15 games before Tuesday.

The Magic traded away their top three players last week, Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon. Those three combined for nearly 59 points a contest this season.

The Clippers had their six-game winning streak snapped. Los Angeles utilized just eight players against the Magic. Paul George did not play for a second straight game due to foot soreness. Marcus Morris Sr. was a late scratch due to a calf contusion. Patrick Beverley (right knee soreness) and Serge Ibaka (lower back soreness) also remain out.

Newly acquired point guard Rajon Rondo (right abductor soreness) has not played for the Clippers since joining the team in a trade last week.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Orlando   L.A. Clippers
Chuma Okeke 18 Scoring Kawhi Leonard 28
Michael Carter-Williams 9 Assists Reggie Jackson 7
Mo Bamba 8 Rebounds Ivica Zubac 13
Terrence Ross 8 Free Throws Made Kawhi Leonard 6
Michael Carter-Williams 3 Steals Reggie Jackson 1
Wendell Carter Jr. 3 Blocks Patrick Patterson 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Orlando 103 41.3 5-17 22-25 23 50 6 10 9
L.A. Clippers 96 41.6 12-37 10-10 25 48 4 3 17
Upcoming Games
  • L.A. Clippers will play their next game at home against Denver. The Clippers have a W/L % of .562 after a win and .824 after a loss.
  • Orlando will play their next game on the road against New Orleans. The Magic have a W/L % of .438 after a win and .290 after a loss.