![\"NBA:](\"https:\/\/images.deadspin.com\/tr:w-900\/28301109.jpg\")
Feb 20, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dribbles the ball against Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nThe Orlando Magic sustained a double-overtime loss in Phoenix on the front end of a back-to-back and then hopped a plane for the flight to Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Though the Clippers, their next opponent, are well-rested, it might not be a bad time for Orlando to face a team on shaky ground.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Magic play the third contest of a four-game excursion on Sunday night when they visit the Clippers at Inglewood, Calif.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Clippers started poorly this season, going 6-21 before streaking with 16 wins in 19 games and then splitting their past 10.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n But they traded James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this month, leaving Kawhi Leonard without a high-scoring running mate.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Leonard also doesn’t sound too keen about the team’s championship chances as he expressed his doubts after Thursday’s 115-114 home win over the Denver Nuggets.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “I think it’s over now,” Leonard told reporters. “It’s the second half, like (final) fourth of the season left, but every day is a day to grow, a day to learn and get better. So, you just got to keep looking over time and see in two weeks if we’re getting better, and see what happens from there.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Clippers coach Tyronn Lue attempted damage control the following day, saying he interpreted Leonard’s comments as meaning there has been change in the organization.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Lue said he has no doubts — even at two games under .500 — that the Clippers can put together a postseason run.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “I just feel confident. I just feel confident in our players,” Lue said. “I feel confident in our coaching staff and I just feel confident in the environment, like the culture we’ve set. And why wouldn’t you want to play to win?<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n “That’s our mindset. That’s my mindset every single night. And as tough as it may be or you start 6-21 or whatever it may be, you’re playing to win. And so, we make the playoffs and then anything can happen.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Leonard sprained his left ankle during Friday’s 125-122 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and is listed as questionable for Sunday. He has scored 20 or more points in each of his last 35 appearances.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Orlando opened its road trip by making a franchise-record 27 3-pointers in a 131-94 rout of the lowly Sacramento Kings on Thursday.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The opportunity to be 2-0 on the trip was there with Phoenix shooting just 34.2% from the field over 58 minutes on Saturday. But Jalen Green (who was 6 of 26) drained a game-winning trey as the second OT ended to give the Suns a 113-110 win.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “Our guys fought to the end minus bodies,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “But we’ve got to make sure we continue to do the little things.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Guard Jalen Suggs (back) missed the contest and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Standout Franz Wagner (left ankle) isn’t on the trip and is out indefinitely.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Desmond Bane scored 34 points and Paolo Banchero had 26 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists and four blocked shots for Orlando.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Mosley was beaming about Banchero’s all-around play.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “He’s a young man that continues to get downhill, created double teams, got a lot of guys wide-open looks,” Mosley said about Banchero. “We’ve got to step in and knock those down.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “He attacked the basket a ton. Wasn’t getting the call necessarily going his way, but I loved the way that he was attacking downhill, being aggressive in those situations.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Orlando defeated the visiting Clippers 129-101 on Nov. 20 in the first meeting. Leonard was sidelined with foot and ankle injuries.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n