It's time to tap the brake pedal. The Los Angeles Clippers are in town.

The Orlando Magic are well-rested after four days of no games, but they have little interest in taking a joy ride tonight with the younger, springier legs of the Clippers.

The Magic, who normally do best in a free-wheeling game, know their best chance of winning -- and finally establishing a real home-court swagger in the last two months of the season -- is to walk the ball up court.

"If we can stop their transition game -- not let them run -- we have a great chance of winning," said veteran power forward Horace Grant. "Otherwise, you might have to bring out the oxygen for me."

The Clippers, who played in Miami Wednesday night, have one of the youngest, most physically gifted teams in the league, but they are as skittish as a young colt when they are forced into a set-it-up, slowdown game.

And that's the Magic's plan tonight.

The Clippers could use a lineup that looks like a slam-dunk contest, including Darius Miles, Corey Maggette, Quentin Richardson and Elton Brand, making the Magic look like they're running in sand.

While the Magic have the shooters, guys like Mike Miller, Pat Garrity, Horace Grant -- a team built around the double-teams that Tracy McGrady attracts -- the Clippers are loaded with more athletic players.

"The Clippers are just so unpredictable," Miller said. "If they are making shots, really running the floor, they are a great team. But they are less comfortable if you get them in the half court. If we can take away their athletic ability in the open court, it will make it a lot more difficult for them."

The Magic (27-25) are hoping to use tonight's game against the Clippers and Saturday's game against Philadelphia as a springboard to their seven-game Eastern swing that begins next week.

Earlier this season in Los Angeles, the Magic started quickly, then found themselves in a fourth-quarter track meet against the Clippers that they couldn't win. The Clippers, though, are without Lamar Odom (injured list with sprained wrist) this time.

Although the Magic would love to get more athletic, it's unlikely to happen today before the 6 p.m. trade deadline. The balance of the Eastern Conference makes it easy to move up or down, but General Manager John Gabriel said Wednesday night that he didn't expect any roster changes.

"You think about things that could separate you from the pack, and the checkered flag is within your sights," Gabriel said. "We're aware of that. But it just doesn't look like anything fits."