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Magic-Clippers Preview

Dec 7, 2009 - 8:30 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Orlando (16-4) at Los Angeles (9-11), 10:30 p.m. EDT

Looking for their best start in 14 years, the Orlando Magic will attempt to set a franchise record with their eighth straight road win in a season.

Orlando can achieve that mark with a sixth consecutive victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.

The Southeast Division-leading Magic won their fifth straight overall and improved to 16-4 with Saturday's 126-118 victory at Golden State. Orlando used a 15-0 fourth-quarter run to win its seventh in a row on the road since a 102-74 loss to Oklahoma City on Nov. 8.

"We got a little lucky and hung around and stayed in the game until we were able to get the last push that we needed," said coach Stan Van Gundy, whose team has won 10 of 11.

Orlando, which looks to open 17-4 for the first time since 1995-96, has not won eight straight away from home since taking its final two road games of 2006-07 and its first seven the following season.

"We like playing on the road and like the atmosphere that the road brings us. It's almost like we're more together on the road," center Dwight Howard told the team's official Web site. "We feed off the energy of knowing that we have to go into somebody else's building and quiet that crowd and get the win."

Orlando won its last two in Los Angeles against the Clippers, the most recent a 95-88 victory last Dec. 8. Howard had 23 points, 22 rebounds and six blocks.

Looking for its first victory over Orlando since Dec. 3, 2006, Los Angeles (9-11) will try for a better effort than it had in an 88-72 win over Indiana on Saturday. The Clippers, winners of four of five at home, shot 34.9 percent from the field, went 4 of 16 from 3-point range and matched a season high with 21 turnovers.

"It was one of the ugliest (games), but I'm definitely not giving it back," center Marcus Camby said after scoring 12 points with 17 rebounds. "The way we shot the ball and turned the ball over and still got the win, we've definitely got a lot of improvement to do. But I'm more than happy to get the W."

Los Angeles was also happy to have second-year guard Eric Gordon back after he missed Wednesday's loss to Houston with a strained left hamstring. He scored 10 points Saturday.

"Obviously Eric's numbers, shooting the ball 3 for 10, were not so great," coach Mike Dunleavy said, "but he has an impact on the game defensively. As far as stops, deflections, hands on the ball, pushing the ball up the floor, making plays to other guys, and the fact that you have to guard him \2013 it helps spread the court."

Gordon averaged 11.5 points on 36.4 percent shooting in two losses to Orlando last season.

Magic guard Vince Carter had 27 points Saturday as Orlando had its best offensive output since a 135-111 victory over Indiana on Jan. 27.

Playing for New Jersey, Carter averaged 33.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists against Los Angeles in 2008-09.

Orlando hosts the Clippers on March 9.