Magic stun Clippers with late comeback

FILE– Head coach Steve Clifford of the Orlando Magic meets with the team during a timeout in the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Amway Center on March 19, 2021 in Orlando, Florida.  Julio Aguilar/Getty Images/AFP 

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.

✨ 16-point comeback
✨ 21-5 run to close the game

The @OrlandoMagic prevail in LA! pic.twitter.com/zR5zuCgz15

— NBA (@NBA) March 31, 2021

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