Kawhi Leonard scores 29 to lead Clippers past Magic 100-97
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Kawhi Leonard and Paul George hit decisive jump shots in the final seconds for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Orlando Magic did not, and LA won for the fifth time in six road games, 100-97 on Friday night.
The Clippers, who have lost five straight at home, held on to fourth place in the Western Conference with nine games left in the regular season.
“I'm not worried about the playoffs right now,” said Leonard. “We're just trying to execute what's in front of us. There are no excuses. We've just got to lock in at home and get a win.”
Leonard, who scored 25 of his 29 points in the second half, put the Clippers ahead with a mid-range jumper with 34 seconds left. George scored with 5.2 seconds to play before Orlando's Franz Wagner missed a couple of 3-point attempts just before the buzzer.
Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 23 points and eight rebounds, but had two of his seven turnovers in the final minute. The 21-year-old power forward took the blame for the Magic's third straight loss.
“If I show up the way I’m supposed to, we win all these games,” Banchero said.
Jalen Suggs scored 15 for the Magic and Moritz Wagner came off the bench for 12 points and nine rebounds.
Ivica Zubac, who finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds, scored twice to help the Clippers open the second half on an 8-0 run for a 61-50 lead, their biggest of the game.
“We did a great job building an 11-point lead, playing good basketball, and then we just got comfortable, turning the ball over, careless passes . . . and allowed them to get back in the game,” said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. “But I loved our defense tonight. Overall, a tough, gritty win for us. Coming down the stretch, keeping our composure, coming down late in the game and finding a way to win.”
After getting his first field goal with 1:46 left in the first half, Banchero responded to the Clippers rally with 11 points over a five-minute stretch to help Orlando regain a brief lead.
“I’ve got to find a way to start games better,” he said. “I don’t like how I’m playing right now so I’ll just work on it.”
Leonard and Amir Coffey hit 3-pointers late in the third quarter and the Clippers moved out to a 10-point lead. But Mo Wagner scored the Magic's first 10 points of the fourth quarter, most of them during a Clippers scoreless stretch of 5:35. By the time George finally scored on a layup with 4:15 left, Orlando led 94-89.
But Banchero's runner in the lane with 1:28 left, regaining a one-point lead for Orlando, was the Magic's only field goal over the final 4 1/2 minutes.
Orlando's three straight losses - all at home - have been by two points to Sacramento, eight to Golden State and three to the Clippers.
Mo Wagner insists the Magic are “playing really good basketball.”
“Sometimes stuff doesn’t go your way. We’re going to show up tomorrow and play the same way and hope for a different result,” he said. "I said the same thing when we had a nine-game winning streak and we were like the sweet darling on social media. Everything was cool.
“But if you’re trying to go somewhere, you better figure it out at some point.”
UP NEXT
Clippers: Visit Charlotte on Sunday night.
Magic: Host Memphis on Saturday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Ivica Zubac vs. Wendell Carter Jr. (Paolo Banchero gains possession) | |||
11:39 | +2 | Gary Harris makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Wendell Carter Jr. assists) | 0-2 | |
11:23 | +3 | Terance Mann makes three point jump shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 3-2 | |
11:06 | Franz Wagner misses two point driving layup | |||
11:06 | Wendell Carter Jr. offensive rebound | |||
11:06 | Kawhi Leonard blocks Wendell Carter Jr.'s two point putback layup | |||
11:06 | Magic offensive rebound | |||
11:03 | Jalen Suggs turnover (bad pass) (James Harden steals) | |||
10:49 | Ivica Zubac misses two point hook shot | |||
10:47 | Magic defensive rebound | |||
10:32 | Jalen Suggs misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:29 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
10:08 | James Harden turnover (bad pass) (Franz Wagner steals) | |||
9:48 | Wendell Carter Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
9:46 | Paul George defensive rebound | |||
9:40 | Paul George misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:35 | Paolo Banchero defensive rebound | |||
9:29 | Paolo Banchero misses two point driving layup | |||
9:24 | Gary Harris offensive rebound | |||
9:24 | +2 | Gary Harris makes two point tip layup | 3-4 | |
9:00 | Paul George misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
8:57 | Franz Wagner defensive rebound | |||
8:52 | +2 | Jalen Suggs makes two point running layup | 3-6 | |
8:29 | Ivica Zubac turnover (lost ball) (Jalen Suggs steals) | |||
8:15 | Jalen Suggs turnover (out of bounds step) | |||
8:08 | Terance Mann offensive foul (Off the ball) (Franz Wagner draws the foul) | |||
8:08 | Terance Mann turnover (offensive foul) | |||
7:52 | Paolo Banchero misses three point jump shot | |||
7:49 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
7:32 | +3 | James Harden makes three point stepback jump shot | 6-6 | |
7:14 | +2 | Franz Wagner makes two point driving layup | 6-8 | |
7:01 | James Harden misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:54 | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | |||
6:54 | Franz Wagner personal foul (Paul George draws the foul) | |||
6:54 | Magic 60 second timeout | |||
6:41 | +2 | James Harden makes two point stepback jump shot | 8-8 | |
6:25 | Paolo Banchero turnover (lost ball) (Kawhi Leonard steals) | |||
6:18 | +2 | Paul George makes two point running layup (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 10-8 | |
6:03 | Paolo Banchero turnover (bad pass) (Kawhi Leonard steals) | |||
5:49 | Wendell Carter Jr. blocks Terance Mann's two point cutting layup | |||
5:45 | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | |||
5:43 | +2 | Terance Mann makes two point driving hook shot (Ivica Zubac assists) | 12-8 | |
5:31 | Magic 60 second timeout | |||
5:24 | Paolo Banchero misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
5:21 | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | |||
5:15 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point pullup jump shot | 14-8 | |
4:58 | Franz Wagner misses two point driving layup | |||
4:55 | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | |||
4:48 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point pullup jump shot | 16-8 | |
4:25 | Jalen Suggs misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
4:23 | Jalen Suggs offensive rebound | |||
4:22 | +3 | Jonathan Isaac makes three point jump shot (Jalen Suggs assists) | 16-11 | |
3:55 | Kawhi Leonard misses two point hook shot | |||
3:55 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
3:52 | Jonathan Isaac blocks Paul George's two point layup | |||
3:49 | Cole Anthony defensive rebound | |||
3:46 | +2 | Jalen Suggs makes two point driving finger roll layup (Jonathan Isaac assists) | 16-13 | |
3:46 | Norman Powell shooting foul (Jalen Suggs draws the foul) | |||
3:46 | +1 | Jalen Suggs makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 16-14 | |
3:38 | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point turnaround jump shot | 18-14 | |
3:20 | +3 | Caleb Houstan makes three point jump shot (Jalen Suggs assists) | 18-17 | |
3:07 | Russell Westbrook turnover (bad pass) (Jonathan Isaac steals) | |||
2:41 | +2 | Cole Anthony makes two point pullup jump shot | 18-19 | |
2:26 | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point driving floating jump shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 20-19 | |
2:12 | Paolo Banchero turnover (lost ball) (Kawhi Leonard steals) | |||
2:05 | Kawhi Leonard misses three point running jump shot | |||
2:03 | Jonathan Isaac defensive rebound | |||
1:57 | Jalen Suggs misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
1:53 | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | |||
1:52 | Kawhi Leonard turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
1:39 | Cole Anthony turnover (bad pass) (Russell Westbrook steals) | |||
1:34 | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point running layup (Russell Westbrook assists) | 22-19 | |
1:16 | Moritz Wagner misses two point driving layup | |||
1:13 | Mason Plumlee defensive rebound | |||
1:13 | Jonathan Isaac personal foul (Kawhi Leonard draws the foul) | |||
1:06 | Norman Powell misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
1:03 | Jonathan Isaac defensive rebound | |||
0:53 | Cole Anthony misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
0:49 | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | |||
0:46 | Caleb Houstan shooting foul (Russell Westbrook draws the foul) | |||
0:46 | +1 | Russell Westbrook makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-19 | |
0:46 | Russell Westbrook misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:43 | Jonathan Isaac defensive rebound | |||
0:22 | Joe Ingles misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
0:21 | Magic offensive rebound | |||
0:21 | Magic turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
0:00 | Amir Coffey turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Suggs steals) | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:42 | +2 | Mason Plumlee makes two point layup (Norman Powell assists) | 25-19 | |
11:27 | +3 | Caleb Houstan makes three point jump shot (Moritz Wagner assists) | 25-22 | |
11:17 | +3 | Amir Coffey makes three point jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 28-22 | |
11:04 | Norman Powell personal foul (Jonathan Isaac draws the foul) | |||
10:55 | +2 | Moritz Wagner makes two point driving dunk (Joe Ingles assists) | 28-24 | |
10:37 | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point turnaround jump shot | 30-24 | |
10:25 | +3 | Joe Ingles makes three point stepback jump shot | 30-27 | |
10:04 | Amir Coffey misses three point jump shot | |||
9:59 | Amir Coffey offensive rebound | |||
9:58 | Amir Coffey misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:56 | Russell Westbrook offensive rebound | |||
9:54 | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point putback layup | 32-27 | |
9:45 | Russell Westbrook personal foul (Joe Ingles draws the foul) | |||
9:45 | Joe Ingles technical foul | |||
9:45 | +1 | James Harden makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 33-27 | |
9:36 | +3 | Cole Anthony makes three point jump shot (Moritz Wagner assists) | 33-30 | |
9:18 | +2 | Mason Plumlee makes two point alley-oop dunk (Russell Westbrook assists) | 35-30 | |
8:57 | +2 | Joe Ingles makes two point floating jump shot | 35-32 | |
8:49 | Mason Plumlee offensive foul (Off the ball) (Franz Wagner draws the foul) | |||
8:49 | Mason Plumlee turnover (offensive foul) | |||
8:41 | Cole Anthony misses three point jump shot | |||
8:38 | Moritz Wagner offensive rebound | |||
8:37 | Moritz Wagner misses two point putback layup | |||
8:37 | Mason Plumlee defensive rebound | |||
8:26 | Cole Anthony blocks Mason Plumlee's two point layup | |||
8:26 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
8:18 | Franz Wagner blocks James Harden's two point stepback jump shot | |||
8:14 | James Harden offensive rebound | |||
8:13 | James Harden misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:13 | Magic defensive rebound | |||
7:55 | Ivica Zubac blocks Moritz Wagner's two point driving layup | |||
7:52 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
7:48 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point running dunk (Paul George assists) | 37-32 | |
7:36 | Paul George shooting foul (Paolo Banchero draws the foul) | |||
7:36 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
7:36 | +1 | Paolo Banchero makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 37-33 | |
7:36 | +1 | Paolo Banchero makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-34 | |
7:21 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point dunk (James Harden assists) | 39-34 | |
7:06 | +3 | Cole Anthony makes three point jump shot (Franz Wagner assists) | 39-37 | |
6:49 | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point driving layup (Ivica Zubac assists) | 41-37 | |
6:49 | Wendell Carter Jr. defensive goaltending violation | |||
6:35 | +2 | Franz Wagner makes two point driving finger roll layup | 41-39 | |
6:20 | Paul George misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:17 | Paolo Banchero defensive rebound | |||
6:00 | Joe Ingles misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
5:57 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
5:51 | Cole Anthony shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul) | |||
5:51 | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 42-39 | |
5:51 | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 43-39 | |
5:41 | Paul George personal foul (Franz Wagner draws the foul) | |||
5:31 | Paolo Banchero misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
5:26 | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | |||
5:17 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point driving bank hook shot | 45-39 | |
5:05 | Paolo Banchero offensive foul (Off the ball) (Paul George draws the foul) | |||
5:05 | Paolo Banchero turnover (offensive foul) | |||
4:52 | Paul George misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:49 | Paolo Banchero defensive rebound | |||
4:38 | Wendell Carter Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Paul George steals) | |||
4:34 | Jalen Suggs blocks Terance Mann's two point running layup | |||
4:29 | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | |||
4:28 | Ivica Zubac misses two point tip layup | |||
4:28 | Paolo Banchero defensive rebound | |||
4:25 | Cole Anthony misses three point running jump shot | |||
4:22 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
4:19 | Jalen Suggs blocks James Harden's two point running layup | |||
4:16 | Paolo Banchero defensive rebound | |||
4:10 | +3 | Jalen Suggs makes three point jump shot (Paolo Banchero assists) | 45-42 | |
3:49 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point cutting layup (James Harden assists) | 47-42 | |
3:32 | Terance Mann personal foul (Franz Wagner draws the foul) | |||
3:32 | +1 | Franz Wagner makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 47-43 | |
3:32 | +1 | Franz Wagner makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 47-44 | |
3:11 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point jump shot | 49-44 | |
2:56 | Paolo Banchero misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
2:52 | Wendell Carter Jr. offensive rebound | |||
2:42 | Franz Wagner misses three point jump shot | |||
2:38 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
2:35 | Gary Harris shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul) | |||
2:35 | Magic 60 second timeout | |||
2:35 | James Harden misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
2:35 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
2:35 | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 50-44 | |
2:20 | +2 | Wendell Carter Jr. makes two point cutting dunk (Franz Wagner assists) | 50-46 | |