Clippers beat Magic for 5th consecutive win
LOS ANGELES -- J.J. Redick scored 22 points and the Los Angeles Clippers won their fifth in a row with a 105-96 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night at Staples Center.
Chris Paul contributed 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists and DeAndre Jordan collected 20 rebounds and 10 points for the Clippers (27-14). Jordan grabbed 20 or more boards in a game for the sixth time this season, which leads the NBA.
Aaron Gordon scored 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting, including 4 of 7 from long distance for the Magic (16-24), who lost their fourth straight and the sixth out of their last seven contests. Nikola Vucevic added 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic, who lost to the Clippers for the seventh consecutive time. Orlando's Jodie Meeks came off the bench to score 14 points.
The Magic played without forward Serge Ibaka, who suffered a sprained right shoulder in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Magic made a run late, but couldn't sustain it. They pulled within 98-94 after a bucket by Vucevic with 1:39 remaining, but a jumper by Redick and a 3-pointer by Paul gave Los Angeles a nine-point advantage with 49.8 seconds remaining. That sealed it for the Clippers.
Both teams began the third quarter with sluggish play. However, the Magic picked up the pace near the end of the period and outscored the Clippers 24-17 for 75-73 edge heading into the final quarter.
Los Angeles used a 16-6 spurt to finish the first half for a 56-51 lead at the break. Despite committing 11 first-half turnovers (leading to 13 points) to six miscues (resulting in eight points) for the Magic, the Clippers took advantage of the Orlando's second-quarter shooting woes.
The Magic managed just 29.2 percent from the floor and missed all eight of their 3-pointers in the quarter. The Clippers shot 50 percent.
For the game, the Clippers converted 51.3 percent of their shots to 42.4 for the Magic. The Clippers had 21 turnovers overall (24 points) to 13 (18 points) for Orlando.
Clippers guard Austin Rivers returned after a one-game absence due to flu. Rivers finished with nine points and five assists.
NOTES: Clippers F Blake Griffin (right knee surgery) "looks great" and has increased his workout load, according to coach Doc Rivers. Rivers didn't give a return date for Griffin, who has missed 13 games since undergoing a procedure on his knee on Dec. 20. The club said at the time he would be out four to six weeks. ... Kevin Garnett, who was hired by the Clippers as a consultant during training camp, is currently working with C DeAndre Jordan to help improve Jordan's offensive game. ... Orlando is 6-0 when shooting 50 percent or better from the floor. ... The Magic visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. ... The Clippers will be the home team when they face the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.