INGLEWOOD, Calif. — With John Collins sidelined, the Los Angeles Clippers entered Sunday’s battle with the Orlando Magic without one of their most reliable playmakers.
Kobe Sanders slotted in the lineup in Collins’ place, but one of the main heartbeats of LA’s offense was Bennedict Mathurin, who dropped 21 points off the bench in 30 minutes to complement Kawhi Leonard’s 37 in the starting lineup.
The Clippers struggled to contain Desmond Bane, who made half of Orlando’s eight 3-pointers and finished with a Magic-leading 36 points. The Clippers won the turnover battle, 12-9, but couldn’t prevail. Mathurin’s wide-open 3-point attempt with the clock expiring would’ve won the Clippers the game, but he missed it.
The Clippers will aim to find the win column on Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Reporter Kasey Kazliner covered Clippers-Magic and broke down the action on Unclipped, TOT’s Clippers podcast. Listen below!