ORLANDO, Fla. Shane Vereen Womens Jersey Elite . -- When the Orlando Magic followed up two straight season-opening losses with a pair of lopsided wins over New Orleans and then Brooklyn, it turned a few heads. Their latest victory will certainly garner them even more attention. Nik Vucevic had 30 points -- including six free throws in the final 23 seconds -- and 21 rebounds to help the Orlando Magic hold on for a 98-90 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. The win was the Magics third in a row, and gives them their first three-game streak since December of last season. Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said theres no real secret to his teams success so far. "Trust. We kept trusting each other," he said. Vaughn smiled when he recalled Vucevic calling for the ball down the stretch, and the third-year big man said afterward that his success in the closing minutes only adds to the confidence he feels in his game right now. "I know my team needs me to be aggressive," said Vucevic, who posted his fifth-career 20-20 game. "The coaching staff keeps telling me to be aggressive on both ends of the court. Im just trying to deliver for my team so we can get some wins." Orlando led by as many as 19 points in the third quarter but Los Angeles went on a 25-5 run to take its first lead that quieted the Amway Center crowd. Blake Griffin led the Clippers with 23 points and 13 rebounds, and Chris Paul added 18 points and 10 assists. Former Magic guard J.J. Redick also chipped in 17 points. But the Clippers, who had been averaging 124 points and shooting more than 50 per cent during a three-game winning streak, were held to just 37 per cent on the night. Los Angeles became the third straight Magic opponent to shoot under 40 per cent. The Clippers have little time to dwell on their shortcomings, though, as they continue a three-game road trip Thursday at Miami. Even during their win streak Clippers coach Doc Rivers has been cautioning that their defence wasnt close to acceptable. He said his approach to changing the culture requires no special formula. "Youve just got to keep talking about it," he said. "We win games, we score 100 or whatever points, thats always fools gold. Our offence is always fools gold. Youve got to defend to win. The good part about tonight is that was proven." Paul agreed defence must start being their focus. "Its Game 5. Luckily weve got about 77 left," Paul said. "But were not going to win games unless our defence gets better." Just days after scoring their most points in nearly four years, the Clippers were sluggish and looked a little tired on both ends early as the youthful Magic pushed the pace on the way to building a 15-point halftime lead. The Clippers led 75-72 early in the fourth when Byron Mullens and Andrew Nicholson got tangled up running down the floor. Nicholson fell to the ground during the scrum and was initially whistled for a technical foul. It was reviewed and a technical was also awarded to Mullens. The play seemed to re-ignite the Magic, though, who took the lead back -- 83-80 -- on a transition 3-pointer by ETwaun Moore with 6:43 to play. Paul tied it again at 86 with a short jumper in the lane a few trips later, and a defensive 3-seconds call on the Magic and a free throw by Redick gave back the lead to Los Angeles. It twice changed hands on the next two trips before a fade away jumper by Arron Afflalo put the Magic back in front 90-89. The Clippers called timeout to set up a play, but Paul missed a 3-pointer late in the shot clock which was rebounded by Orlando. Vucevic then scored off a feed from Jameer Nelson on the other end. Paul turned it over on the Clippers next possession, but the Magic failed to get up a clean shot on their ensuing trip. DeAndre Jordan was fouled and connected on 1 of 2 free throws to trim it 92-90 with 25 seconds remaining. Vucevic then started his parade to the line to close it out. "Its more important that we took the blow that they gave us," Magic guard Jameer Nelson said. "They came out in the third and pretty much had their way. Basketball is a game of runs. They made their run and we took the blow. We executed well, we stuck to our game plan and even when they executed against our game plan and were successful, we stuck with it." NOTES: Magic F Tobias Harris sat out his fifth straight game with a sprained left ankle. Vaughn said there remains no timetable for his return. ...The Clippers played without F Matt Barnes (calf). Rivers said he could miss Thursdays game against Miami as well. ... Recently-retired Grant Hill was in attendance on Wednesday night. He played with both the Magic and Clippers during his 19-year career. Stephen Gostkowski Womens Jersey Elite .Y. - Dustin Tokarski stopped all 43 shots he faced as the Hamilton Bulldogs blanked the host Syracuse Crunch 3-0 on Saturday in American Hockey League action. John Hannah Jersey . The St. Louis Cardinals were scheduled to arrive in Boston in time for a workout on Tuesday afternoon. Much of Mondays discussion focused on Bostons lineup considerations as the series progresses, specifically when the venue shifts to St.TORONTO -- The Toronto Maple Leafs have waited nearly four months for Dave Bolland to return to their lineup. It seems theyll have to wait a little longer. The veteran forward practised Wednesday but was wearing a maroon jersey, meaning he wasnt allowed to participate in full contact and making it unlikely hell will be in the lineup Thursday night when Toronto visits the New York Islanders in the first game for both teams following the Olympic break. Bolland, who suffered a severed ankle tendon in a game Nov. 2, had resumed practising with the Leafs earlier this month. But he stumbled late during Tuesdays session, grimacing in pain. "Its one where we felt that he took a step back (Tuesday) so we felt it would be best suited he didnt participate on a line (Wednesday) as far as practising with a group," Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said. "To say that its a bad sign, well, its not a positive. "But its not a huge negative. I dont want you to read into it that its something we cant deal with." Bolland maintained Wednesday his situation remains day-to-day. And while he did say he had a misstep Tuesday, Bolland didnt reveal any further details. "Sometimes in situations on the ice youre going to get those things," he said. "I just had a little bit of a fall there but thats whats going to happen in a game. "Thats what you have to get ready for." Carlyle said Bolland will accompany the Leafs on their two-game road trip versus the Islanders and Montreal on Saturday night. Bolland plans to participate in Thursdays pre-game skate before deciding whether hell play. Bolland added hell return to the lineup when hes convinced hes healthy enough to deal with the rigours of game conditions. "Id rather be ready for the long road than being in and out of the lineup and not going," Bollaand said. Ryan Allen Womens Jersey Elite. "Youve got to be 100 per cent getting back in the lineup, you dont want to be a liability out there. "Its never fun watching the guys play sitting at home on the couch seeing whats going on. You want to be out there right now. I want to be out there. I wish I couldve been out there a month ahead but its about getting it stronger and making sure its ready." Toronto (32-22-6, 70 points) has fared well despite Bollands injury, entering the Olympic break on an 11-2-1 run. "Im ready (to return)," Bolland said. "With watching and seeing whats going on with the guys and seeing them win and keeping it rolling, thats the big thing. "For myself, my confidence is going to be high when I get out there. I want to contribute as much as I can to this team and to help it keep going." Meantime, leading scorer Phil Kessel (31 goals, 34 assists) was back on the ice Wednesday for the first time since suiting up with teammate James van Riemsdyk (24 goals, 23 assists) for the U.S. at the Sochi Winter Games. Van Riemsdyk didnt skate but did work out with his teammates Tuesday. Carlyle said Kessel, who didnt speak to reporters after practice, had the same option, but opted to take Tuesday off instead. Theres been persistent talk van Riemsdyk suffered a hand injury in Sochi, but Carlyle said both players have been cleared medically by Leafs doctors. Carlyle was asked how Kessel looked in practice. "I would say Phils not an energetic individual to the start of practice," Carlyle said, drawing chuckles from the assembled media. "I dont know how else to put it." The reporter then followed up by saying Kessel looked more energetic near the end of the session. "That seems to be how Phil approaches practice," Carlyle added with a grin. ' ' '
