Kawhi Leonard sat out Saturday’s contest against the Magic due to the continued management of his right knee -- the Clippers have declined to play their star in both games of back-to-backs -- and his team once more lost the game.
It was their seventh consecutive loss in games where Leonard sits, with 'The Athletic''s Law Murray passing along that the Clippers are just 3-14 since mid-November in games without Leonard. Los Angeles had a four-game winning streak snapped by Orlando.
Leonard's absence -- he is expected to play against Portland on Sunday -- was painfully obvious in this one, especially on defense, notably late, with the Clippers going up 39 points in the fourth quarter while letting a lead slip away. Russell Westbrook said it’s up to everyone else to step up their game when Leonard is sitting out.
“There’s no excuse for tonight. We just didn’t close the game like we were supposed to, make the right plays like we needed to," Westbrook said.
The newly-acquired point guard took the blame for the team's Orlando loss after finishing with 14 points, nine assists and five rebounds in 37 minutes of action. That good was clouded by six turnovers and an 0-for-3 showing from deep which dropped him to just 4-of-22 from long distance over the past seven games.
“I don’t ever worry about Russ’ shooting," said Paul George, who stepped up for the divisive Westbrook. "I just know what he brings and his value to the team. And that is bigger than anything. He just does so much other stuff that I don’t care. He plays hard and that’s a guy that I want to roll with.”
While Westbrook has struggled of late, another deadline acquisition, Eric Gordon, has been feeling at home after beginning his career with the franchise and looping back around.
"This was a situation I’ve always wanted to be in and looking forward to," Gordon said. "We got a lot of talented guys and I think I kind of fit the mold of how they play and how they do things. It’s great to be back.”
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