By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer
NEW ORLEANS — Norman Powell scored 35 points, James Harden hit go-ahead free throws with 17.9 seconds left and the Clippers held on to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans, 116-113, on Monday night.
With the Pelicans – losers of 10 straight and 19 of 20 – trying to tie the score, Harden adroitly fouled rookie center Yves Missi, whose 12-point, nine-rebound, five-blocked shot performance was tarnished by his missed free throw that could have tied it at 114 with 4.3 seconds left.
Officials prematurely blew the whistle because they thought Missi’s foul shot missed the rim. They called for a jump ball at center court after video review.
Clippers center Ivica Zubac won the tip back to Harden, who made two more free throws with 1.8 seconds remaining to complete his 27-point performance. CJ McCollum took a shot from midcourt and hit the front of the rim.
Zubac finished with 20 points and 16 rebounds for the Clippers, who have won three straight and five of six.
McCollum scored 33 (eight 30-pointers) and Murphy and Herbert Jones had 18 each for the Pelicans, who made a season-high 18 3-point shots. Dejounte Murray had 13 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and six steals.
The Clippers trailed for most of the game and never led by more than four.
McCollum started the third quarter scoring with back-to-back 3-pointers to give New Orleans a 68-56 lead. The Pelicans led by 12 four more times before Nicolas Batum, Kevin Porter Jr. and Harden each made a 3-pointer to help the Clippers get within one.
Harden got the Clippers even by making two foul shots with 31.9 seconds to go in the third quarter, but another McCollum 3-pointer gave New Orleans a 90-87 lead entering the fourth.
The Clippers got within one point twice early in the fourth quarter before a McCollum 3-pointer gave the Pelicans a 102-98 lead. Powell made a 3-pointer and a layup to push the Clippers in front 112-108 with 3:01 remaining.
Jones sank two free throws and McCollum made a layup to tie the score with 2:16 left.
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In the first quarter, the Clippers briefly took a two-point lead before Javonte Green, McCollum, Murphy and Jordan Hawkins each made a 3-pointer to help New Orleans take a 37-31 lead at the end of the period.
Powell scored eight of the Clippers’ first 12 points of the second quarter as the Clippers took a 43-41 lead. The score was tied twice before Murphy made two 3-pointers and McCollum and Jones made one each during a 14-0 run that gave the Pelicans a 59-45 lead.
Powell and Kris Dunn each scored five points during an 11-3 run that pulled the Clippers within 62-56 at halftime.
The Clippers had advantages in rebounding (40-35), paint points (56-44) and made free throws (21-11) to weather one of New Orleans’ best performances in the past month. The Clippers converted 14 offensive rebounds into 20 second-chance points.
UP NEXT
The Clippers visit San Antonio on Tuesday at 4 p.m. PT.