Clippers' stout defense leads them past Magic

Ivica Zubac finished with 18 points and 20 rebounds, Norman Powell and Kawhi Leonard each added 21 points, and the Los Angeles Clippers delivered one of their best defensive performances of the season en route to a 96-87 road win at Orlando on Monday.

The 87 points the Clippers (43-32) surrendered were the second-fewest Los Angeles allowed this season. Holding the Magic to just 30-of-76 shooting from the floor, including 7-of-26 from 3-point range, Los Angeles overcame its own offensive struggles.

The Clippers shot 8-of-31 from 3-point range and committed 16 turnovers, which Orlando converted into 19 points.

But with Los Angeles dominating the glass 47-32 behind Zubac's effort, and a 7-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to open up a 10-point lead, the Clippers rebounded from their loss on Sunday in Cleveland.

The Clippers finished their four-game Eastern Conference road swing 3-1. Los Angeles heads into five straight at home as they continue their push for a Western Conference playoff bid.

James Harden capped the pivotal mini-run with a lay-up, two of his final three points on the way to 20. The quartet of Harden, Zubac, Powell and Leonard accounted for all but 16 of Los Angeles' points.

Zubac made his first six field-goal attempts and had a double-double with about four minutes still remaining in the first half. He finished 7-of-10 shooting from the floor.

Paolo Banchero led all scorers with 26 points despite shooting just 1-of-8 from 3-point range. A chunk of Banchero's work came at the foul line, where he went 9-of-9.

Franz Wagner added 21 points for the Magic (36-40).

Monday marked Orlando's ninth game scoring fewer than 90 points this season. The Magic had their fifth highest-scoring effort of the season in a 121-91 blowout of Sacramento on Saturday.

Orlando is jockeying with Atlanta for the top spot in the East's play-in. Los Angeles is one of five Western Conference teams vying for home-court advantage -- and to avoid the play-in -- currently with between 43 and 45 wins.

--Field Level Media