Clippers suffer blowout loss to Magic, drop to 4-11 on season

ORLANDO -- The Los Angeles Clippers' rough patch continued on Thursday night as they were blown out 129-101 by the Orlando Magic at Kia Center, marking their ninth loss in the last 10 games. Despite a strong performance from James Harden, who scored 31 points and dished out eight assists, the Clippers couldn't overcome their struggles with turnovers and defense.

Harden Makes History in Losing Effort

Earlier in the week on Monday against Philadelphia, the 36-year-old reached a historic milestone when he became just the 11th player in NBA history to score 28,000 career points. He joined an exclusive club that includes legends like LeBron James and Kevin Durant. But even that achievement came in a loss, which has been the story of the Clippers' season.

Harden has been the Clippers' lone bright spot during this terrible stretch, averaging 26.2 points, 8.7 assists, and 6.3 rebounds per game this season. Even his best efforts haven't been enough to keep the team afloat.

Turnovers Continue to Plague Clippers

The Clippers' biggest problem all season has been taking care of the basketball, and Thursday night was no different. Los Angeles coughed up the ball 21 times, leading to 33 Magic points. 

The team is averaging 16.1 turnovers per game this season, which has been a major reason they sit at 4-11.

"We can't keep giving teams extra possessions," head coach Ty Lue said after the game. "That's been our problem all year. When you turn it over that much, it's almost impossible to win."

Orlando took full advantage of the mistakes, scoring a season-high 39 fast-break points. The Magic's ability to turn defense into offense was the difference, as they moved the ball well and shared scoring duties throughout the night.

Advanced Stats Paint Ugly Picture

The numbers tell a tough story for the Clippers. 

They're currently ranked 25th in the league in offensive rating and 21st in defensive rating, resulting in a negative net rating and the team is being outscored by 4.6 points per game this season, a far cry from the title expectations they had entering the year.

Ivica Zubac was the only other Clipper to reach double figures with 14 points, though he did grab 19 rebounds, but it wasn't nearly enough against a Magic team that shot 52.9 percent from three-point range.

Leonard Injury Update

Before the game, Lue provided an update on Kawhi Leonard, who has now missed nine straight games with an ankle and foot injury. The two-time Finals MVP has been traveling with the team and is making progress, but Lue said he isn't certain to play before the Clippers return home after the weekend.

Leonard started the season strong with 24.1 points per game over the first six contests before the injury struck. His absence, combined with Bradley Beal being out for the season with hip surgery, has left the Clippers extremely shorthanded.

Looking Ahead

The Clippers (4-11) will try to end their losing streak on Saturday when they visit Charlotte. Meanwhile, the Magic (9-7) have now won five of their last six games and are starting to find their groove in the Eastern Conference.

For Los Angeles, the season is quickly slipping away, and without Leonard and with limited scoring help around Harden, the Clippers need to figure things out fast or risk falling out of the playoff race before December even arrives.