The Los Angeles Clippers look for another home win against an upper echelon NBA team, as they host the Orlando Magic tonight at Staples Center. The Clippers only have five wins this season, all at home, but three of them have come against prospective playoff teams. They have beaten Oklahoma City, New Orleans and San Antonio at home, and lost to the Lakers on a last-second shot.
The Clippers look to rebound from another close loss on Saturday, losing 84-83 to Memphis. The Clippers had a season-high 27 turnovers against the Grizzlies, the third-highest total in the NBA this season. They also had Baron Davis take the final shot of the game, a decision that was not preferred by Steve Perrin of Clips Nation:
I'd much rather have seen Eric Gordon going to the basket. He's had success in late game situations this season, in particular at Utah and against the Kings last week. I for one wanted the ball in his hands. Of course we'll never know if the outcome would have been any different, but if the team is building around Gordon and Griffin, then the more end of game chances Gordon gets, the better in the long run.
Blake Griffin is averaging 20.0 points and 11.7 rebounds this season, one of three NBA players averaging at least 20 points and 11 boards this year. One of the other two is Dwight Howard, who is putting up 21.5 points and 12.2 rebounds per contest. Howard has 16 double-doubles in 21 games this season, while Griffin has 17, in 24 games. Griffin has a double-double in each of his last 11 games, averaging 24.1 points and 13.1 rebounds during that span.
Orlando is 15-8 on the season, but has lost four straight games. It has beaten the Clippers in each of its last seven meetings. The Clippers are 11-10 all-time against Orlando at home. Ryan Anderson is out for the Magic with a sprained right foot. After tonight's game, the Clippers begin a three-game road trip that will take them this week to Philadelphia, Detroit and Chicago.
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