Clippers beat Magic in battle of two of NBA's best defenses

The Clippers beat the Magic, 96-87, in a game that featured a lot of strong defense, a lot of turnovers and steals and not a lot of offense. The 183 combined points are tied for the eighth-lowest total of the 2024-25 season — and the four lowest-scoring games all involved the Magic.

On Monday, the Clippers had 12 steals to go along with their 16 turnovers. The Magic had 10 steals and 14 turnovers. With neither team able to make three-pointers at better than a 27% rate, the game was effectively decided by the Clippers' massive advantage in rebounding. Which was created by a massive player, Ivica Zubac.

Zubac pulled down 20 rebounds to go along with his 18 points. Nine of those came on the offensive end, more than the entire Magic team (six). In a game that was full of missed shots, it helps to have the NBA's leader in total rebounds.

That's part of how the Clippers have gotten to 43-32 with a middle-of-the-pack offense, shooting the NBA's third-fewest three-pointers. Zubac averages 12.5 rebounds, while no other Clippers players gets more than 5.8 per game.

He's also shooting 62% from the field. Zubac's average of 16.4 points is easily his career-best. Monday he shot 7-for-10.

In lineups alongside ball-dominant players like Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, it helps to have a player who can get his own offense off other players' misses — especially with Harden shooting under 40% on the season.

The Clippers' playoff success if going to come on the back of defense and rebounding. Zubac's got the second one covered.