The Orlando Magic’s newfound success has extended to the road, as they bring a six-game winning streak into Wednesday night’s challenge against the host Los Angeles Clippers in Inglewood, California.
After securing five straight home victories, the Magic earned a 109-99 road win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday. Franz Wagner matched his season high with 32 points, while Anthony Black added 20 points and the duo combined for 17 assists.
Orlando has put a dreadful five-game road trip behind them, even as star Paolo Banchero continues to miss time with an oblique injury. The Magic have leaned heavily on their defense, holding all six opponents during the winning streak to under 100 points.
Franz Wagner’s stellar play has drawn attention, earning him the recent Eastern Conference Player of the Week honor. He is averaging a career-best 22.9 points per game this season, with 29.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists during the winning streak.
Wednesday’s game is the first of a back-to-back in Los Angeles for the Magic, who face the Lakers on Thursday before returning home to play the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.
The Clippers, also known for their strong defense, have crafted a five-game home winning streak, most recently achieving a 102-99 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday. Los Angeles led by as many as 15 points in the second half and 10 in the fourth quarter before the Warriors mounted a comeback attempt.
Golden State had two chances to tie the game with three-point shots in the closing seconds, including one from Stephen Curry, but the Clippers held on for the win.
Norman Powell scored 23 points for the Clippers despite dealing with hamstring discomfort that arose in the first quarter. James Harden added 12 points and 16 assists while playing through an illness, and Ivica Zubac collected 17 rebounds.
After losing their first four games in their new arena, the Clippers have found a formula for success even without star Kawhi Leonard, who has yet to play this season and is out indefinitely with a knee injury.
Powell leads the team in scoring with 23.3 points per game, Zubac averages 12.4 rebounds, and Harden has contributed 20.1 points and 9.0 assists per game from the point guard position.
