Clippers Fall Short After Holding an 18-Point Lead Against the Pelicans
Pelicans Rally from 18-Point Deficit to Defeat Clippers, 124-109
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Pelicans demonstrated resilience Wednesday night, overcoming an early 18-point deficit to secure a 124-109 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers. Saddiq Bey led the charge with 25 points, while Trey Murphy contributed 23, helping the Pelicans celebrate their sixth consecutive home win.
Dejounte Murray delivered a strong performance as well, posting 17 points and 11 assists. Zion Williamson and rookie Derrick Queen each added 14 points. The enthusiastic crowd acknowledged the team’s efforts with a standing ovation as the game drew to a close, marking their ninth victory in the last 13 games.
Kawhi Leonard was the standout for the Clippers, scoring 25 points, while John Collins supported him with 18. Despite the loss, the Clippers maintained a narrow hold on the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference standings, sitting at 34-35, just a half-game ahead of Portland.
Bey’s sharpshooting played a crucial role in the Pelicans’ success; he connected on five of his ten attempts from the three-point range, contributing to the team’s impressive total of 16 three-pointers out of 37 attempts (43.2%). Furthermore, New Orleans excelled at the free-throw line, hitting 20 of 21 shots, with Queen making all nine of his attempts.
Rookie guard Jeremiah Fears also made an impact off the bench, scoring 11 points. Murphy reached a personal milestone, sinking his 200th three-pointer of the season late in the third quarter, which helped the Pelicans extend their lead to 89-81. His fourth three-pointer increased the advantage to 94-81 in the final minute of the period, which concluded with New Orleans ahead, 96-85.
A highlight of the game came when Murphy executed a double-clutch dunk over Brook Lopez, following a fast break initiated by a steal from Herb Jones. This play pushed the Pelicans’ lead to 117-101 with just over four minutes remaining, allowing them to maintain a comfortable cushion as the game wound down.
The Pelicans faced a challenging start, committing eight turnovers in the first nine minutes that allowed the Clippers to seize a 33-18 lead. Leonard capitalized during this stretch, scoring 12 of his points. However, New Orleans began to chip away at the deficit, eventually tying the game at 58 on a three-pointer from Murphy late in the second quarter.
In a thrilling exchange just before halftime, Leonard and Murphy both scored, with Murphy’s floater in traffic leveling the score at 60, setting the stage for a competitive second half.
