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The LA Clippers are riding high and are on a six-game winning streak after completely crushing the Milwaukee Bucks Monday night. Can they do it again against a very different opponent, an Orlando Magic team that is near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings but decided to really shake things up at the NBA trade deadline?
Game Information
When: Tuesday, Mar. 30 at 7 p.m. PT
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
How to watch/listen: Fox Sports Prime Ticket, AM 570 Radio
Opposing perspective: Orlando Pinstriped Post
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers (32-16): Reggie Jackson, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Ivica Zubac, Marcus Morris Sr.
Magic (15-31): James Ennis III, Chuma Okeke, Khem Birch, Dwayne Bacon, Michael Carter-Williams
Injuries/Absences
Clippers: Serge Ibaka (back tightness), Patrick Beverley (right knee soreness), Rajon Rondo (right adductor) — OUT
Magic: Gary Harris (groin), Cole Anthony (ribs), Jonathan Isaac (knee), Markelle Fultz (knee) — OUT; Terrence Ross (knee) — QUESTIONABLE
The Clippers, missing Paul George, cruised to a 129-105 win over the Bucks Monday, in what was called their best win of the season. Luke Kennard, Marcus Morris Sr., Terance Mann and Reggie Jackson all had standout nights in the victory, great news for the state of the Clippers bench at this point in the season. This winning streak is starting to get folks wondering if the Clips have finally, finally turned a corner and can be a contender this season.
The Magic, meanwhile, are not in this state. They nearly beat the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, yes, but they are second-last in the Eastern Conference and they just traded away Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon, and El Farouq Aminu and Evan Fournier. Basically, most the Magic players you may have heard of were either traded away or are on the injury report. On paper, this looks like one of the easiest matchups of the season for the Clippers, but the games aren’t played on paper.
Still, if LA can keep cruising and beat the teams they ought to be beating, then it will lift them for the games that they may have to battle for. Still, an opponent with nothing to lose, especially in this wild season, could be stiffer competition than expected. We’ll see how this one turns out.