In a game that marked the impending arrival of James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers, the team delivered an impressive performance, defeating the Orlando Magic 118-102 on Tuesday night.
Harden, whose trade to the Clippers from the Philadelphia 76ers was still pending official confirmation, watched the game from a suite, unable to join his future teammates on the bench. His new No. 1 Clippers jersey was already prepared in his locker, awaiting his arrival.
With the impending trade leaving the Clippers with only 11 players in uniform for the game, nine of them saw substantial playing time, with both Bones Hyland and Norman Powell making significant contributions with 18 points each.
The third quarter proved to be the turning point for the Clippers, with Russell Westbrook and Paul George delivering exceptional performances, scoring 16 and 14 points, respectively, during the period. This turnaround allowed the Clippers to seize control of the game, outscoring the Magic 41-21.
On the other side, Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 15 points, and Franz Wagner showcased his prowess with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Moritz Wagner chipped in 13 points coming off the bench.
