Clippers trail Magic at halftime, 59-40

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With 11 minutes left in the second quarter, Clippers forward Craig Smith was called for a charging foul against Orlando Magic center Marcin Gortat.

A fan at Staples Center pleaded with the referee,’C’mon, show some mercy!’

At that point, the Magic led, 40-14, and what mercy the Clippers could’ve been given, by anyone, probably wouldn’t have been enough.

The Clippers fought back in the second quarter, scoring 26 points to the Magic’s 24, to make the halftime deficit more respectable, 59-40. The Magic’s biggest first-half lead was 26.

It seemed as though this one wouldn’t come down to a last-second shot, as in the Clippers’ recent one-point losses to the Lakers and Memphis. This one looked over after the first quarter, when the Magic led by 21 points.

That quarter ended rather comically, with Clippers rookie guard Eric Bledsoe getting called for goal-tending when he belatedly slapped Magic guard J.J. Redick‘s buzzer-beating layup attempt against the backboard. It probably wouldn’t have gone in, but Bledsoe’s mistake meant it counted.

Speaking of mistakes, the Clippers hadn’t committed too many, as compared to the 47 total turnovers they had in the losses to the Lakers and Memphis. In the first half they had only four, one fewer than Orlando.

The Magic shot 26 for 45 (57.8%) and were led by guard Jameer Nelson (12 points) and Brandon Bass (10).

The Clippers shot 14 for 46 (30.4%) and were led by rookie forward Blake Griffin‘s 15 points and eight rebounds. Griffin had made six of 12 shots. Guard Eric Gordon, however, was two for 12.

-- Baxter Holmes