In a thrilling showdown at the Smoothie King Center, Trey Murphy put on a scoring clinic with 27 points, leading the New Orleans Pelicans to a 105-99 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. This marked their second consecutive win against the Clippers, following a decisive 124-109 triumph just the night before.
Saddiq Bey contributed 20 points, while Zion Williamson added 15. Yves Missi made his presence felt with a double-double, tallying 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Herb Jones chipped in with 11 points. This win extended the Pelicans' impressive home streak to seven games, boosting their record to 25-46.
On the Clippers' side, Derrick Jones led the charge with 22 points. John Collins added 18, Bogdan Bogdanovich scored 16, Isaiah Jackson contributed 13, and Jordan Miller rounded out the scoring with 11. Despite their efforts, the Clippers (34-36) suffered their fourth straight defeat.
Both teams were managing injuries, with key players sitting out. The Pelicans missed guard Dejounte Murray, who was recovering from right Achilles surgery and had been instrumental in the previous night’s victory with 17 points and 11 assists.
The Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard, their leading scorer, who was sidelined with a left ankle sprain after posting 25 points and eight rebounds in the prior game. Darius Garland also sat out due to a left toe injury.
The game was a seesaw battle, with Bey igniting the Pelicans in the third quarter. He scored the first eight points, helping to stretch their halftime lead to 63-57. Although the Clippers briefly snagged a one-point advantage, Bey's seven points and an assist on Derik Queen’s three-pointer swung the momentum back to New Orleans, giving them a 79-74 edge.
The Clippers responded, taking a two-point lead after a seven-point burst. However, Jordan Poole's clutch three-pointer and Williamson's late-quarter heroics ensured the Pelicans held an 87-84 lead entering the final period.
The fourth quarter saw the Pelicans struggle initially, failing to score for over five minutes. Bey's free throws finally ended the drought, and Williamson’s putback sparked a 9-0 run, pushing their lead to 100-94 with just over four minutes remaining.
Despite a late push from the Clippers, Herb Jones connected with Williamson for a dunk, Murphy sank two critical free throws, and Williamson added another to seal the game at 105-97 with just over a minute left.
The game was tightly contested from the start, with the lead changing hands multiple times in the first quarter. Jeremiah Fears' basket gave the Pelicans a slight 28-26 edge at the end of the period. The second quarter was equally competitive, with six ties before Murphy's jumper provided a 45-43 lead, allowing New Orleans to maintain a slim 55-52 advantage at halftime.
This victory not only showcased the Pelicans' resilience but also highlighted their potential to compete fiercely, even when facing adversity.