The Los Angeles Clippers secured a 114-98 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night in Inglewood, California. Kawhi Leonard led the team with 28 points, while James Harden contributed 21 points and 10 assists. Ivica Zubac also made a significant impact with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Bogdan Bogdanovic added 16 points.
For the Pelicans, Jose Alvarado recorded 17 points and 10 assists. Bruce Bowen scored 16 points, and Yves Missi secured 12 rebounds. The Pelicans have struggled recently, with a 3-7 record over their last ten games.
The Clippers built a 59-47 lead by halftime, largely due to Leonard’s 18 first-half points. They maintained control throughout the game, with Bogdanovic leading the team with 12 points in the second half.
Los Angeles took the lead at 12-10 following a layup by Harden with 4:49 remaining in the first quarter and never looked back. The Clippers also outperformed the Pelicans from beyond the arc, making 13 three-pointers compared to New Orleans’ four. The Pelicans struggled with their three-point shooting, hitting only 4 of 22 attempts.
The Pelicans have recently shut down forward Zion Williamson (back) and guard CJ McCollum (right foot) for the season, contributing to their ongoing challenges. Meanwhile, the Clippers have been performing well at home, following a 3-1 road trip where their only loss was to the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland team.
The Pelicans will remain in Southern California to face the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, while the Clippers are set to host the Dallas Mavericks on the same evening.
