The Los Angeles Clippers are trying to recover on the second part of a back-to-back and the last date for a four-game road turn when they visit Orlando Magic on Monday.
Los Angeles (42-32) played without Kawhi Leonard (higher knee injury) on Sunday in a loss of 127-122 in Cleveland. Clippers dragged the eastern conference -leading Cavaliers almost all the way, despite runs to reduce double -digit differences in a place margins in each of the last three quarters.
Norman Powell scored 34 points and James Harden had 24 points, which led the road with Leonard on the page for the first time since March 12.
Powell’s performance was his best individually since he recently returned from an almost month long absence that kept him away from 12 matches.
Before the road, Powell told reporters, “I’m just trying to find my flow and rhythm when I’m limiting.”
The protocol has gradually decreased and he played almost 40 minutes in Cleveland.
Clippers fell in eighth place at the Western conference with the loss, bound with Minnesota in total record. Golden State leads both a game after his victory on Sunday over San Antonio, while Memphis and Los Angeles Lakers have two- and three game benefits compared to the cliffs until Sunday.
Orlando (36-39) moved to eighth place at the Eastern Conference since then 121-91 Blue of Sacramento on Saturday.
The magic is a half-game behind Atlanta when they jockey for the most favorable of the four play-in-round spots. Orlando and Atlanta have shared the season series so far 1-1, with two more meetings from head-to-head to come.
Meanwhile, The Magic aims to build on its latest rise. Saturday’s victory was Orlando’s fourth in the last five games. In each of the four victories, the NBA’s second to the lowest score of 105.1 points per match has set up 111 points or more.
Orlando is locked up in the mail season and Trail, which recently drops Milwaukee by 4 1/2 matches for the last guaranteed playoffs.
“That’s what you work throughout the season,” Orlandos Paolo Banchero said that he at least one play-in place. “We have handled a lot of injuries and things throughout the year, so just the fact that we can be in the season, I don’t think anyone takes it for granted.”
Both Banchero (25.9 points per match) and Franz Wagner (24.2) – Orlando’s two leading scores in the season – missed significant time due to oblique injuries. Magin has also been without Spark-Plug guard Cole Anthony in recent weeks, and he is listed as hesitant for Monday’s play due to a toe injury.
“I’ve just taken the time and tried not to rush it because there is just no need,” Anthony told Orlando Sentinel. “I was already trying to get back once and it was too early.”
Magic Backcourt has been adjusted over the past month with Anthony on the page and Jalen Sugps was closed off the year with a quadriceps injury.
Anthony Black had a run with four straight games that scored in double -digit points with his eight points against Sacramento, but he counted 64 points in the previous route.
-Field level media
