The Orlando Magic fell to the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 116-90 at Amway Arena, bringing the Magic now to 8-12 on the season.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George both returned to the Clippers lineup after being out because of the new COVID protocol rules the NBA has implemented (the two did not test positive for the virus, however, they were both suspected to have come in close contact with someone who tested positive. The two stars returning to the team’s road trip and the lineup proved to be the difference as the Magic had no answer for the stars.
Paul George was just happy and relieved to be back on the court.
“I was super relieved that we were both healthy, first and foremost,” George said. “We had been playing so well that it was unfortunate that we had to take the hiatus, but safety is first.”
Coach Tyronn Lue was relieved to have his two superstars back in the lineup as well.
“On a night where guys were a little tired, just having their presence was huge and that was big for us,” Lue said of the firepower provided by George and Leonard following Orlando’s brief third-period run. “They were just making plays for everybody else and making the game easy.”
The Orlando Magic started the season 6-2 but have lost 10 out of 12 games since then. They are searching for an identity and searching for a way to get back to winning basketball. They play the Raptors in Tampa on Sunday night and look to do so there. There is a long season ahead.
