Game ID: 22300486
LA Clippers @ New Orleans Pelicans
Friday, January 5, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NOP 26 15 27 27 95LAC 26 30 36 19 111
LAC @ NOP ScoutingLAC @ NOP Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
NOP availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 13 since 11/29, returns tonight: 25 min (125% of 20)
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 18 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/31 · 2 days' restOUT Hawkins missed 3 since 12/23, returns tonight: 8 min (48% of 17)
OUT Ryan missed 19 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 25 min since (125% of 20)
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Ryan missed 20 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 24 min since (120% of 20)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 8 min since (48% of 17)
NOP availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Murphy III missed 2 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 21 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 23 min since (113% of 20)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 17 min since (102% of 17)
NOP availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Murphy III missed 3 since 12/31, returns tonight: 17 min (55% of 30)
OUT Ryan missed 22 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 23 min since (113% of 20)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 12 min since (74% of 17)
NOP availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Ryan missed 23 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 1/05 after 3, 17 min since (55% of 30)
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 22 min since (109% of 20)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 11 min since (65% of 17)
NOP availability going into 1/10 · 2 days' restOUT Ryan missed 24 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 1/05 after 3, 21 min since (68% of 30)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 14 min since (81% of 17)
NOP availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Alvarado missed 2 since 1/07, returns tonight: 17 min (91% of 18)
OUT Ryan missed 25 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 1/05 after 3, 22 min since (72% of 30)
NOP availability going into 1/13 · back-to-backOUT Ryan missed 26 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 1/05 after 3, 23 min since (76% of 30)
BACK Alvarado back 1/12 after 2, 17 min since (91% of 18)
LAC availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Leonard missed 2 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 13 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 23 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 12/21 after 4, 9 min since (64% of 14)
BACK Boston back 12/16 after 3, 10 min since (101% of 10)
LAC availability going into 12/29 · 2 days' restOUT Leonard missed 3 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 14 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 24 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 12/21 after 4, 9 min since (64% of 14)
NEW Coffey 21 to 26 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/01 · 2 days' restOUT Leonard missed 4 since 12/21, returns tonight: 34 min (99% of 34)
OUT Tucker missed 15 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 25 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 2 since 12/26, returns tonight: 3 min (29% of 10)
NEW Coffey 21 to 29 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 16 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 26 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 1/01 after 4, 34 min since (99% of 34)
BACK Boston back 1/01 after 2, 3 min since (29% of 10)
LAC availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 17 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 27 since 11/08, returns tonight: 7 min (51% of 14)
OUT Hyland missed 4 since 12/26, returns tonight: 6 min (47% of 14)
BACK Leonard back 1/01 after 4, 37 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Boston back 1/01 after 2, 3 min since (29% of 10)
LAC availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 18 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 1/01 after 4, 34 min since (101% of 34)
BACK Plumlee back 1/05 after 27, 7 min since (51% of 14)
BACK Hyland back 1/05 after 4, 6 min since (47% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/01 after 2, 5 min since (47% of 10)
LAC availability going into 1/08 · back-to-backOUT Tucker missed 19 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 1/01 after 4, 35 min since (101% of 34)
BACK Plumlee back 1/05 after 27, 7 min since (51% of 14)
BACK Hyland back 1/05 after 4, 6 min since (47% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/01 after 2, 5 min since (47% of 10)
LAC availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 20 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 1/07, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 1/01 after 4, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Plumlee back 1/05 after 27, 6 min since (42% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/01 after 2, 5 min since (46% of 10)
LAC availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 21 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 1/07, out tonight
BACK Plumlee back 1/05 after 27, 6 min since (42% of 14)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 104, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ingram at 21 and Williamson at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Murphy III (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 25 and Harden at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Tucker (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 104 a night to the Clippers' 116. Call it New Orleans 117, the Clippers 111.
12/28 vs UTA 112-105 — NOP notes
NOP won 112-105. NOP shot 55% (45 of 82) to UTA's 42%, 10 of 27 from three, and got to the line 15 times to UTA's 25. Ingram led with 26 (9 of 18, 7 of 7 at the line); McCollum added 22, Williamson 21. The hinge was Q2, 20-14: a lead of 2 became 8. Nance Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/31 vs LAL 129-109 — NOP notes
NOP won 129-109. NOP shot 52% (45 of 87) to LAL's 48%, 17 of 34 from three. The glass went 47-35 for them. Ingram led with 26 (10 of 18, 4 of 7 from three); Williamson added 26, McCollum 22. The hinge was Q1, 42-33: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Ingram was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
1/02 vs BKN 112-85 — NOP notes
NOP won 112-85. NOP shot 47% (41 of 88) to BKN's 36%, 16 of 39 from three, and went to the line 18 times to BKN's 8 — 14 points from the stripe to their 4. The glass went 53-43 for them. McCollum led with 16 (6 of 11, 4 of 8 from three); Jones added 14, Alvarado 13. The hinge was Q1, 32-18: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 32. Ingram was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/03 @ MIN 117-106 — NOP notes
NOP won 117-106. NOP shot 56% (45 of 81) to MIN's 45%, 12 of 26 from three, and got to the line 17 times to MIN's 27. The glass went 41-28 for them. Williamson led with 27 (11 of 15, 5 of 6 at the line); McCollum added 24, Ingram 19. The hinge was Q2, 32-22: a lead of 3 became 13, and the lead reached 24. Williamson was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/05 vs LAC 95-111 — NOP notes
NOP lost 95-111. NOP took 10 more shots (92 to 82), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 36% to LAC's 49%, 12 of 29 from three. NOP turned it over 9 times to LAC's 14. Valančiūnas led with 13 (6 of 12); Hawkins added 13, McCollum 12. Q4 was theirs, 27-19, the deficit cut from 24 to 16, but the other 3 periods went 92-68 against them. Nance Jr.'s -21 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/07 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Fox at 25 and Sabonis at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Ellis (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 103, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 20 free throws a game; McCollum at 19 and Williamson at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 103 a night to Sacramento's 116 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-10 a night and New Orleans plus-4. Call it Sacramento 116, New Orleans 115, New Orleans keeping it close.
1/10 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Curry at 25 and Thompson at 17 a game. Without Green (13 straight), Payton II (3 straight). 2 days' rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 102, shooting 50 percent and 47 from three, 20 free throws a game; McCollum at 21 and Williamson at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 102 a night to Golden State's 124 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-11 a night and Golden State minus-0. Call it New Orleans 117, Golden State 114, Golden State keeping it close.
1/12 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 116, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murray at 25 and Jokić at 21 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 101, shooting 51 percent and 46 from three, 19 free throws a game; McCollum at 19 and Williamson at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Alvarado (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 46 percent from three to Denver's 36 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-9 a night and Denver minus-1. Call it Denver 115, New Orleans 114, New Orleans keeping it close.
1/13 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and Irving at 33 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Lively II (4 straight), Kleber (31 straight), Exum (5 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 51 percent and 46 from three, 19 free throws a game; Williamson at 22 and McCollum at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-5 a night and Dallas minus-6 and the line, where Dallas takes 27 free throws a game to New Orleans's 19. Call it Dallas 118, New Orleans 113.
12/26 vs CHA 113-104 — LAC notes
LAC won 113-104. LAC shot 47% (40 of 85) to CHA's 46%, 14 of 34 from three, and went to the line 25 times to CHA's 16 — 19 points from the stripe to their 12. Harden led with 29 (8 of 16, 6 of 12 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); George added 25, Zubac 18. The hinge was Q4, 31-24: a lead of 2 became 9. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
12/29 vs MEM 117-106 — LAC notes
LAC won 117-106. LAC shot 49% (43 of 87) to MEM's 44%, 11 of 39 from three. LAC turned it over 17 times to MEM's 12, and MEM turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 54-33 for them. George led with 23 (8 of 21, 2 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Harden added 16, Zubac 15. The hinge was Q3, 35-21: a lead of 5 became 19. Coffey was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
1/01 vs MIA 121-104 — LAC notes
LAC won 121-104. LAC shot 59% (47 of 80) to MIA's 42%, 14 of 29 from three, and got to the line 14 times to MIA's 29. Leonard led with 24 (10 of 19, 2 of 5 from three); George added 23, Powell 22. The hinge was Q2, 36-23: LAC came in trailing by 12 and left it ahead by 1, and the lead reached 22. Zubac was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
1/03 @ PHX 131-122 — LAC notes
LAC won 131-122. LAC shot 55% (42 of 76) to PHX's 53%, 18 of 34 from three, and went to the line 32 times to PHX's 26 — 29 points from the stripe to their 23. George led with 33 (8 of 14, 5 of 10 from three, 12 of 14 at the line); Leonard added 30, Harden 22. The hinge was Q1, 35-20: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Mann was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
1/05 @ NOP 111-95 — LAC notes
LAC won 111-95. LAC shot 49% (40 of 82) to NOP's 36%, 15 of 36 from three. LAC turned it over 14 times to NOP's 9, and NOP turned those into 9 steals. George led with 24 (9 of 15, 6 of 10 from three); Leonard added 19, Zubac 15. The hinge was Q2, 30-15: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 31. Powell was the night's best plus/minus at +36.
1/07 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Davis at 28 and James at 24 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Russell (3 straight), Hachimura (2 straight), Vincent (8 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 106, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; George at 26 and Leonard at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Tucker (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-7 a night and the Lakers minus-3 and the arc, the Clippers at 42 percent from three to the Lakers' 32. Call it the Clippers 116, the Lakers 112, the Lakers keeping it close.
1/08 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 25 and Leonard at 22 a game. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Tucker (19 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Booker at 22 and Beal at 21 a game. Without Gordon (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-7 a night and Phoenix minus-1 and the arc, the Clippers at 41 percent from three to Phoenix's 36. Call it the Clippers 115, Phoenix 111, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/10 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 108, shooting 53 percent and 46 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 25 and Leonard at 21 a game. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Tucker (20 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 123, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Barrett at 21 a game. Without Dick (7 straight), Freeman-Liberty (35 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 108 a night to Toronto's 123 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-6 a night and Toronto plus-0. Call it the Clippers 121, Toronto 114.
1/12 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bane at 25 and Morant at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Gilyard (7 straight), Rose (4 straight). 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 45 from three, 21 free throws a game; George at 27 and Leonard at 22 a game. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Tucker (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 45 percent from three to Memphis's 38 and the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 15 times a game to the Clippers' 12. Call it the Clippers 114, Memphis 113, Memphis keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NOPBI B. Ingram
CM C. McCollum
CZ C. Zeller
DD D. Daniels
HJ H. Jones
JA J. Alvarado
JH J. Hawkins
JV J. Valančiūnas
LN L. Nance Jr.
NM N. Marshall
TM T. Murphy III
VA Valanciunas
ZW Z. Williamson
LACAC A. Coffey
BB B. Boston
BH B. Hyland
BJ Boston Jr.
DT D. Theis
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
KB K. Brown
KL K. Leonard
MP M. Plumlee
NP N. Powell
PG P. George
RW R. Westbrook
TM T. Mann
NOP/LAC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Paul George, Kawhi Leonard lead surging Clippers past Pelicans, 111-95
NEW ORLEANS -- — Paul George made six 3-pointers and scored 24 points, Kawhi Leonard added 19 points and nine rebounds, and the surging Los Angeles Clippers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 111-95 on Friday night.
James Harden had 13 assists and eight points in 29 minutes for the Clippers, who led by 31 points in the fourth quarter and won for the 14th time in 16 games.
Jonas Valanciunas had 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, whose four-game winning streak was snapped. Jordan Hawkins also scored 13 points in just seven minutes off the bench.
The Clippers played suffocating defense against New Orleans' top two scorers, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson , each of whom was held to 12 points. Williamson left in the third quarter with a right leg contusion that Pelicans coach Willie Green said after the game was not serious.
“I just think defensively, we were locked in,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.
After averaging 32 points in his last four games against Los Angeles, Ingram was kept in check by quick double-teams as soon as he touched the ball.
“We wanted to make sure we tried to take the ball out of his hands early, because he’s had first quarters against us that have been crazy,” said Lue, whose team had lost four straight to the Pelicans. “He had nine shots, and nine shots for an All-Star player just shows that we’ve done a good job trying to take the ball out of his hands.”
The Clippers took control by outscoring the Pelicans 30-15 in the second quarter, holding New Orleans to 5-of-24 shooting. Los Angeles closed the first half on a 24-7 run, limiting New Orleans to five points over the final 6:11, and led 56-41 at the break, holding the Pelicans to their fewest points in a half this season.
Harden took just seven shots, but he kept the ball moving for wide-open jumpers by George.
“It’s easy because our guys on the floor attract so much attention,” George said. “James, Kawhi, those guys attract so much attention that a lot of times, it leaves me open for catch-and-shoot situations, and my job is easy at that point. I just finish the play that those guys created.”
Green said the Clippers came out to prove a point defensively.
“They were physical, they were aggressive, they had their hands on us,” he said. “They mixed up their defensive coverages. They blitzed some pick-and-rolls. It just took us out of what we wanted to do, and we were a step slow tonight.”
UP NEXT
Clippers: Will be the visiting team at their home venue, Crypto.com Arena, against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.