Clippers get gusty win in Orlando to finish 3-1 road trip

ORLANDO -- The Clippers have played essentially two completely different games in the span of 24 hours. On Sunday, it was a shootout with the Cavaliers without Kawhi Leonard and on Monday, it was a defensive grind with the Orlando Magic. 

The Clippers escaped Orlando with a 96-87 win behind a monster game by Ivica Zubac. Three Clippers scored 20 points or more and Ivica Zubac had 18 points and 20 rebounds in a huge effort on the road. 

The Clippers are 4-0 when Zubac records 20 or more rebounds.

Kawhi Leonard on the other hand, probably had his worst game of the last 2 weeks. He got off to a 2-for-8 start and finished with 21 points but missed all of his three point attempts. When Leonard has a game like that and the Clippers can still win, it goes to show the depth and trust of this Clippers team. 

Kawhi was still a +10 and the pieces around him stepped up. Norman Powell has looked more and more like himself as of late, scoring 21 points on 8-for-14 shooting and 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. 

James Harden had an inefficient night much like Kawhi Leonard, but made some tough baskets in the third quarter and was steady down the stretch and had 7 steals on the defensive end. 

Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. need to be shouted out. Dunn may not be an offensive threat, but his defense has been immaculate and was again on Monday night. Jones Jr. also did not have a good scoring night, but his ability to defend Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, as well as be a great slasher, cutter and transition player has made him critical for the Clippers. 

In the postseason, teams need to be able to win in a variety of ways, and the Clippers have shown recently that they can do so against good competition. 

As the team heads back home for a five-game home stand, the Clippers bring back a 3-1 record on the road trip. The Pelicans without C.J. McCollum and Zion Williamson visit Intuit Dome. Tipoff on Wednesday after a day off Tuesday is set for 7:30 PM PST.