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Orlando Magic Grades: LA Clippers 113, Orlando Magic 105

By Philip Rossman-Reich

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers shoots the ball against the Orlando Magic on March 10, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers shoots the ball against the Orlando Magic on March 10, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic played with better energy and a better purpose. But a strong fourth-quarter run from the LA Clippers was enough to finish them off.

The Orlando Magic’s grip on the lead they held throughout the second half slipped as quickly as Lou Williams rising for a jumper.

Williams’ spurtability and his instant offense was something the Magic simply could not match. Not with their undermanned roster and not with the margin of error they had because of it.

Orlando struggled offensively for a six-minute stretch early in the fourth quarter. The reserve unit that featured Shelvin Mack, Rodney Purvis, Wesley Iwundu, Khem Birch and Bismack Biyombo just did not have the offensive firepower to keep up. It did not have the defensive grit for that short stretch either.

The LA Clippers raced ahead thanks to 25 points from Williams and a 14-3 run in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. Orlando scored only 16 points in the final quarter. The Magic could not overcome all of that in a 113-105 loss to the Clippers at Staples Center on Saturday.

Orlando could not get across the finish line in the end.

That is expected from an undermanned and underperforming team. The Orlando Magic made good bouncing back from a disconnected effort Friday against the Sacramento Kings. If Orlando plays with this kind of energy, the team should be able to steal a few games or catch someone sleeping.

It seemed that way for much of the night. Jonathan Isaac was roaming around for steals and making a huge impact defensively. Jonathon Simmons was attacking aggressively off the dribble to get to the basket. Orlando was scrambling well and keeping its energy up.

The defense was a bit disconnected. The Clippers had plenty of easy drives and went on long scoring binges. Binges the Magic had to answer. They could not answer the last one.

LA shot 52.6 percent from the floor and 7 for 18 from beyond the arc. Orlando did not have the firepower despite their energy.

B+. <a href=. SG. Orlando Magic. JONATHON SIMMONS

Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC. C+. The other guy the Orlando Magic desperately need to step up to fill the gap lost by <a href=. C

JONATHAN ISAAC. A-. <a href=. F. Orlando Magic

B. <a href=. G. Orlando Magic. SHELVIN MACK

B-. The LA Clippers could not afford this loss. And for a while it looked like they were not going to be able to figure out how to break through and defeat the Orlando Magic. That would have been a terrible loss in their hopes of making the Playoffs. They went through an unfortunate stretch and just kind of played through the motions. The Magic were on the front foot.<p>But the Clippers still clearly had the better players. And the better depth. Lou Williams scored 10 points in the final quarter and helped spark the Clippers’ offense to defeat the Magic and pull away in the end. Orlando was not able to slow them down from there.</p><p>Strong scoring efforts from Lou Williams (25 points), <a rel=. 36-29. 8th West. LA CLIPPERS

Next: Facing injuries again, energy is a must for the Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic finish their West Coast road trip in San Antonio against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.