Orlando Magic's bellwethers fail against Los Angeles Clippers

Through the Orlando Magic's young 2014/15 season, Orlando Pinstriped Post community members have enjoyed calling attention to two trends:

1. The team has a solid record when little-used power forward Andrew Nicholson scores
2. The team has a solid record when Ben Gordon does not play, or plays only sparingly

But Wednesday's 114-90 shellacking against the Los Angeles Clippers upended both of those trends; the proverbial canaries in the coalmine failed.

Nicholson scored 10 points in 16 minutes Wednesday, and his five field goals matched what he'd accrued in the entire season to date. Further, Gordon earned a Did Not Play-Coach's Decision, making him the only healthy Magic player to sit out.

Counting Wednesday's anomalous result, Orlando now stands at 3-1 when Nicholson scores and at 3-2 when Gordon plays six minutes or fewer.

All of which goes to show: you can't predict basketball.