Clippers vs. Magic preview: Let’s extend the winning streak

After a crazy game last night, the Clippers look to extend their new winning streak to two games as they take on the Orlando Magic. Now, when I say crazy game from last night, I meant it.

The Heat outscored the Clippers by 29 points in the first and fourth quarters. Imagine hearing that. No way the Clippers would win that game, right? Well, they somehow did. In the second and third quarters, LA outscored Miami by 33 points. Remarkable.

After their losing streak came to an end on the road in Atlanta to begin the road trip, the Clippers picked up an impressive win last night to get back in the win column. Now they travel to Orlando to play an 8-11 Magic team.

Game Information:

When: Friday, Jan. 29 at 5 p.m. PT

Where: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida

How to watch/listen: Fox Sports Prime Ticket, AM 570 Radio

Opposing perspective: Orlando Pinstriped Post

Projected Starting Lineups:

Clippers: Reggie Jackson, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Nicolas Batum, Serge Ibaka

Magic: Evan Fournier, Cole Anthony, James Ennis III, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic

Injuries/Absences:

Clippers: Patrick Beverley (right knee soreness) — OUT

Magic: Al-Farouq Aminu (injury recovery), Michael Carter-Williams (left foot sprain), Markelle Fultz (ACL), Jonathan Isaac (left knee injury recovery), Karim Mane (two-way) and Chuma Okeke (left knee bone bruise) — OUT

Good news. The Clippers will have their superstars back, as both George and Leonard are expected to return to the starting lineup.

It’s been a rough stretch recently for Orlando, who got off to one of the hottest starts in the league. Since winning their first four games of the season, the Magic are 4-11, including a 2-9 record over their last 11 games.

With so many injuries on the season for Orlando, they’ve had difficulty scoring the ball. They’re averaging 105.6 points a game, the third-worst number in the NBA. Their field-goal percentage of 43.1 is the second worst in the league, and their 11.2 made three-pointers per game is near the bottom. To put it simply, it’s tough to win when you struggle to score.

As things seem to always go for the Clippers, this will likely be one of those games where Orlando can’t miss from deep, or they get 30 points from some random player. LA is missing a key piece, but so is Orlando. The way the Clippers have looked the last few games without their stars remind me of the team from a few years ago that was the eighth seed. No star power, but a whole ‘lotta fight in them. That was fun, but I’m glad to have our 1-2 punch back now.

For more Clippers talk, subscribe to the Clips Nation podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.