Paul George overcame a sluggish start to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 118-102 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. George recorded 27 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, playing a pivotal role in the Clippers’ win.
Russell Westbrook contributed 18 points, seven assists, six rebounds, and five steals, while Bones Hyland and Norman Powell added 17 points each for Los Angeles. Kawhi Leonard, however, had a quiet night, scoring just eight points on 3-of-11 shooting.
For the Orlando Magic, Paolo Banchero notched 15 points and four steals, and Franz Wagner added 14 points and eight rebounds. Moritz Wagner had 13 points, Markelle Fultz scored 12, Jalen Suggs contributed 11, and Cole Anthony added 10.
Despite a challenging start, with George missing all six of his first-quarter shots and shooting just 2-for-10 before halftime, he came alive in the third quarter. George made four three-pointers and scored 14 points in the period, helping the Clippers take control. Westbrook also had a strong third quarter, contributing 16 points as the Clippers outscored the Magic 41-21 in that period.
The Clippers won their second straight game following news of a reported trade agreement to acquire James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers. The trade is still pending league approval, but Harden was in attendance at the game.
Los Angeles shot 49.4 percent from the field, with a scorching 65.9 percent shooting in the second half. The Clippers made 14 of 31 (45.2 percent) from beyond the arc.
On the other hand, Orlando struggled from long range, shooting just 23.3 percent (7-of-30) from three-point territory. Despite a slow first half, the Clippers exploded in the third quarter, shooting an impressive 73.9 percent (17-of-23) from the field.
The turning point in the game came in the third quarter when the Clippers moved ahead for good with a 10-0 run, led by George. His back-to-back three-pointers gave the Clippers a 69-59 lead with 5:23 remaining in the third. Westbrook’s scoring spree further extended the Clippers’ advantage, as they entered the final quarter with a comfortable 88-71 lead.
Kawhi Leonard’s layup pushed the lead to 20 points at 99-79 with 7:01 left in the game, allowing the Clippers to cruise to the finish line. The Magic had led 50-47 at halftime, with George, Westbrook, and Leonard struggling to find their rhythm in the first half. The Clippers missed their first 11 shots of the game before mounting their comeback.
