We get very few of these per season in the U.K. but tonight we have the Magic at the Clippers for an early tip off. This could be a fun game so get the pizza ordered, beers in the fridge and your popcorn at the ready!
- Tip time is 7pm for U.K. fans (2pm in Orlando)
- To watch here in the U.K. you will need an active NBA League Pass subscription.
The Stats
The Orlando Magic
- Orlando have a 28-42 record, remaining 13th in the Eastern Conference.
- The Magic have won 3 of the last 10 games.
- On the season Orlando score 111.6 points per game (26th of 30) and concede 114.6 points per game (17th of 30).
- Last time out Orlando lost a hard fought game in Phoenix, losing to the Suns 113-116. Having fought back from 12 down Paolo Banchero (who scored 18 points) had a chance to tie it on the final possession. Markelle Fultz equalled his season high with 25 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the field. Cole Anthony had 17, Wendell Carter Jr made 16 points and Franz Wagner had a 16 point 10 rebound double-double.
The LA Clippers
- The Clippers are pushing for the home court advantage come the postseason. A 37-33 record puts them 5th in the Western Conference, 1 game back of Phoenix in 4th.
- Coach Ty Lue’s team have won 4 games straight, but only 5 of the last 10 played.
- The Clippers score score 112.8 points per game (21st of 30) and concede a league worst 122.
- Last time out the Clippers won at home in a high scoring 126-134 victory over Golden State. Kawhi Leonard had 30 points and Paul George 24.
Squad And Injury News
- For Orlando Jonathan Isaac (hamstring) is out.
- Jalen Suggs is out with a concussion.
- Kawhi Leonard is out for the Clippers! Having had a recent knee injury today sees him absent for load management.
- Norman Powell (shoulder) and Brandon Boston (tailbone) are also both confirmed out for LA.
The Big Picture
- The head-to-head with the Clippers has 66 regular season games played with the Magic trailing by 31-35. Orlando won the first meeting this season at Amway Center in an overtime thriller. It sparked a run of eight wins in nine games for the Magic in December. Banchero led Orlando with 23 points, Moe Wagner and Bol Bol each scored 20 points.
- A concern for Orlando is that the Clippers shoot the 5th best 3-point field goal percentage per game. They are not a high volume shooting team but use the long ball very effectively.
- On defence the Clippers do not foul heavily and thus give up relatively few free throws to opponents.
- With leading scorer Leonard (23.8 ppg) out the load will fall to Paul George. A huge threat, averaging a very impressive 23.7 points per game, PG13 is more than capable of putting the team on his shoulders.
- Paolo Banchero continues to lead the Magic scorers with 20.1 points per game, followed by Franz Wagner (18.7), Wendell Carter Jr (15.3), Markelle Fultz (13.8) and Cole Anthony (12.4).
Two To Watch
- For the Magic at the Clippers let’s highlight Markelle Fultz again. Fultz is seeing career year figures in points, assists, rebounds, steals and in field goal percentage. His field goal percentage at 50.9% is 36th best in the NBA. Only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and De’Arron Fox as point guards have a better figure.
- For the Clippers the pick up of veterans Russell Westbrook and Eric Gordon at the deadline could be huge. A quick look at Gordon sees him shooting 44% from the field and sniping 35.7% from the three (37% for his career). Gordon scored 19 points (5-of-8 from three) whilst with Houston this season against the Magic in November. With 14 years experience he remains a genuine threat to teams, scoring double figures in 42 of 58 games he has featured in. That figure includes a season high of 28 points and 20-plus points on six occasions.
