The LA Clippers are coming off huge back-to-back wins over the Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors. The Jazz win was significant because it ended the Clippers' three-game losing streak and got them back to .500 overall, and the Warriors win was significant because LA handed Golden State just their third loss of what has been a dominant regular season to this point.
As we all know, there is no time for rest in the NBA. After just one day off, the Clippers will turn right around and square off with a red-hot Orlando Magic squad at Intuit Dome on Wednesday evening. When they do, they will be doing so without the services of their leading scorer in Norman Powell. Number 24 was added to the injury report after suffering a hamstring strain in the first quarter of Monday's win over Golden State.
Scoring will likely prove much more difficult for LA without the pure offensive prowess and shooting power of Powell. James Harden will be in prime position to step up and shoulder more of the scoring load on Wednesday, but the Clippers also have several other players capable of rising to the challenge and filling Norm's void as well.
One such player is Jordan Miller. The Clippers' second-round pick from the 2023 NBA Draft, Miller has played sparingly so far in his career and has been looking for his opportunity. Wednesday night against the Magic could be just the chance he needs.
Powell being out could mean Jordan Miller time
One of the central mantras of this Clippers team thus far has been the "next man up" mentality. With Paul George departing town in the offseason, Norman Powell made it clear he believed PG leaving would be addition by subtraction for this group. So far, he has not been wrong. The same philosophy has applied to Kawhi Leonard's absence in a way, with multiple guys getting more playing time and proving their worth.
The matchup with the Magic could similarly be the perfect time for Jordan Miller to show why he can be a legitimate contributor for this team. Miller is currently operating on a two-way contract, with just four games and five points per night under his belt at the moment. But should Tyronn Lue throw him in the rotation on Wednesday, Jordan has the skill to impact the game at both ends of the floor.
Miller dominated in the G League last season, consistently affecting the game on offense and defense with his athleticism. His strong play proved that he deserves a shot with the NBA squad this year. In a game likes Wednesday's where the injury report has an extra name on it, it certainly seems like Lue would consider playing Jordan given the right situation.