INGLEWOOD — The New Orleans Pelicans came into Sunday’s game against the Clippers with a stat-heavy resume.
The Pelicans are the top team in the NBA in scoring in the paint with an average of 61.6 points and get to the line more often than any other team in the league, connecting on 82.3% of their free throws.
Compare that to the Clippers, who allow the most paint points, a league-worst 55.0, and lack solid rim protection
And if that wasn’t enough to worry the Clippers, the Pelicans lead the league in steals with 12.9 a game.
‘We got to be smart,” Coach Tyronn Lue said before the game. “We know they attack the paint. We know Zion (Williamson) is the best in the world in getting to the rim, attacking the basket. So, we got to be smart.”
So, instead of trying to beat New Orleans at their game, the Clippers did the smart thing and held to what they do best – shoot from outside to beat the Pelicans 139-124 for their first victory in 19 days.
The Clippers (2-7) had lost seven consecutive games after opening the season with a victory against the Sacramento Kings. On paper, this looked like No. 8.
But behind the outside shooting by Darius Garland and Gradey Dick, the Clippers ended their streak for their second victory of the season.
Garland led the outside attack with 24 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including three 3-pointers and 10 assists, followed by Dick, who made 6-of-7 shots, including both of his 3-pointers, for 15 points.
The Clippers shot 42% from 3-point range and 55% overall.
Brook Lopez found room around Williamson for 20 points and seven rebounds, while Rui Hachimura added 14 points, four rebounds and three assists. Kris Dunn chipped in 14 points, five rebounds and four assists, while rookie Keaton Wagler added 15 points.
The Clippers kept their head in the game and didn’t panic after the teams traded leads in the third quarter, turning an 88-87 deficit into a 102-95 lead on a 3-pointer by Dick with 50 seconds left in the quarter.
Lately, it’s been in the fourth quarter when the Clippers tend to fade. Not this time.
They kept aiming from behind the arc – adding another 3 of 6 3s to stretch a seven-point lead into a 16-point advantage midway through the fourth.
The Pelicans showed they, too, could score from long distance, burying five in the third quarter to turn the game into a shooting contest. But it’s a game the Clippers held onto despite 26 points by Trey Murphy III and 25 from Williamson, who made all nine of his field goal attempts.
Murphy scored on a reverse layup for the first points of the game, giving the Intuit Dome fans a glimpse of the Pelicans’ inside game. Williamson’s fingertip roll put New Orleans ahead, 4-1, less than a minute into the game.
But the Clippers didn’t flinch and scored six consecutive points to take their first lead, 7-4, on a reverse layup by Hachimura. The game remained close until late in the second quarter when the Clippers used a 13-0 run to break open the game and take a 51-38 lead.
The Pelicans slowed their turnovers (11 by halftime) and managed to catch up, slowly chipping away at the Clippers’ lead. They pulled to within five, 65-60, on a floater by Fears before Dunn hit two free throws to give the Clippers a 67-60 halftime advantage.
The Clippers faced the team with the best inside game without starting center Isaiah Jackson, who sat out with a sore left groin. Jackson, who has not missed a game this season, is averaging 8.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists
Pelicans center Yves Missi has missed the past seven games with a bone bruise to his left knee and will not play against the Clippers.
Bennedict Mathurin, who played briefly for the Clippers last season after the February trade deadline, returned to Intuit Dome and played the final minute.