Game ID: 22400444
LA Clippers @ New Orleans Pelicans
Monday, December 30, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NOP 37 25 28 23 113LAC 31 25 31 29 116
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 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Williamson missed 19 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 17 since 11/13, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 6 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Matković missed 7 since 12/02, out tonight
BACK Hawkins back 12/19 after 8, 17 min since (73% of 24)
BACK Green back 12/15 after 2, 15 min since (71% of 22)
BACK Robinson-Earl back 12/19 after 2, 2 min since (11% of 19)
BACK Theis back 12/12 after 3, 14 min since (86% of 16)
BACK Reeves back 12/08 after 3, 3 min since (22% of 15)
BACK Cain back 12/08 after 3, 11 min since (82% of 14)
BACK Jemison III back 12/08 after 3, 7 min since (67% of 10)
NOP availability going into 12/22 · back-to-backOUT Williamson missed 20 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 18 since 11/13, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 7 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Matković missed 8 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Theis missed 2 since 12/19, returns tonight: 13 min (80% of 16)
OUT Cain missed 2 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Hawkins back 12/19 after 8, 19 min since (80% of 24)
BACK Green back 12/15 after 2, 16 min since (74% of 22)
BACK Robinson-Earl back 12/19 after 2, 10 min since (53% of 19)
BACK Reeves back 12/08 after 3, 3 min since (22% of 15)
BACK Jemison III back 12/08 after 3, 7 min since (67% of 10)
NEW Missi 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/26 · 3 days' restOUT Williamson missed 21 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 19 since 11/13, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 8 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Matković missed 9 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Reeves missed 2 since 12/21, returns tonight: 9 min (59% of 15)
OUT Cain missed 3 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Jemison III missed 2 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Hawkins back 12/19 after 8, 24 min since (101% of 24)
BACK Green back 12/15 after 2, 16 min since (72% of 22)
BACK Robinson-Earl back 12/19 after 2, 10 min since (53% of 19)
BACK Theis back 12/12 after 3, 14 min since (84% of 16)
NEW Missi 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Williamson missed 22 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 20 since 11/13, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 9 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Matković missed 10 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 4 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Jemison III missed 3 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Hawkins back 12/19 after 8, 22 min since (94% of 24)
BACK Green back 12/15 after 2, 16 min since (75% of 22)
BACK Robinson-Earl back 12/19 after 2, 11 min since (58% of 19)
BACK Theis back 12/22 after 2, 16 min since (99% of 16)
BACK Reeves back 12/26 after 2, 9 min since (59% of 15)
NEW Missi 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/30 · 2 days' restOUT Williamson missed 23 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 21 since 11/13, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 10 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Matković missed 11 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 5 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Jemison III missed 4 since 12/21, not on tonight's roster
BACK Hawkins back 12/19 after 8, 21 min since (88% of 24)
BACK Robinson-Earl back 12/19 after 2, 14 min since (74% of 19)
BACK Theis back 12/22 after 2, 18 min since (108% of 16)
BACK Reeves back 12/26 after 2, 9 min since (59% of 15)
NOP availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Williamson missed 24 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 22 since 11/13, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 11 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Matković missed 12 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Reeves missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 6 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Theis back 12/22 after 2, 16 min since (98% of 16)
NEW Missi 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Williamson missed 25 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 23 since 11/13, returns tonight: 20 min (81% of 24)
OUT Payton missed 12 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Matković missed 13 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Robinson-Earl missed 2 since 12/30, returns tonight: 3 min (15% of 19)
OUT Reeves missed 3 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 7 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Theis back 12/22 after 2, 16 min since (100% of 16)
NEW Missi 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Williamson missed 26 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 13 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Matković missed 14 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Reeves missed 4 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 8 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Alvarado back 1/03 after 23, 20 min since (81% of 24)
BACK Robinson-Earl back 1/03 after 2, 3 min since (15% of 19)
NOP availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Williamson missed 27 since 11/08, returns tonight: 28 min (97% of 29)
OUT Green missed 2 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 14 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Matković missed 15 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Reeves missed 5 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 9 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Alvarado back 1/03 after 23, 16 min since (66% of 24)
BACK Robinson-Earl back 1/03 after 2, 7 min since (35% of 19)
LAC availability going into 12/19 · 2 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 2 since 12/13, returns tonight: 20 min (85% of 24)
OUT Mann missed 4 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/08 after 3, 29 min since (149% of 20)
BACK Hyland back 12/03 after 2, 18 min since (163% of 11)
NEW Miller 11 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Mann missed 5 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Jones Jr. back 12/19 after 2, 20 min since (85% of 24)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/08 after 3, 27 min since (137% of 20)
NEW Hyland 11 to 21 min over the last 4
NEW Miller 11 to 19 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Mann missed 6 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Jones Jr. back 12/19 after 2, 19 min since (79% of 24)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/08 after 3, 27 min since (137% of 20)
LAC availability going into 12/27 · 3 days' restOUT Mann missed 7 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Jones Jr. back 12/19 after 2, 20 min since (83% of 24)
LAC availability going into 12/30 · 2 days' restOUT Mann missed 8 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 4 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Jones Jr. back 12/19 after 2, 22 min since (93% of 24)
LAC availability going into 12/31 · back-to-backOUT Mann missed 9 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 5 since 12/19, returns tonight: 17 min (156% of 11)
BACK Jones Jr. back 12/19 after 2, 24 min since (101% of 24)
NEW Powell 33 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Dunn 24 to 30 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Mann missed 10 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 12/31 after 5, 17 min since (156% of 11)
NEW Dunn 24 to 30 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Mann missed 11 since 12/04, returns tonight: 16 min (81% of 20)
BACK Hyland back 12/31 after 5, 12 min since (110% of 11)
LAC availability going into 1/06 · 1 day's restBACK Mann back 1/04 after 11, 16 min since (81% of 20)
BACK Hyland back 12/31 after 5, 10 min since (89% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 126, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murphy III at 26 and McCollum at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Williamson (23 straight), Alvarado (21 straight), Payton (10 straight). 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 103, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Powell at 28 and Harden at 25 a game. Without Mann (8 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 103 a night to New Orleans's 126 and the arc, the Clippers at 38 percent from three to New Orleans's 34. Call it the Clippers 116, New Orleans 109.
12/21 vs NYK 93-104 — NOP notes
NOP lost 93-104. NOP shot 41% (34 of 83) to NYK's 44%, 12 of 34 from three. Murphy III led with 26 (11 of 18, 3 of 8 from three); Murray added 14, McCollum 13. Q2 was theirs, 21-17, but the other 3 periods went 87-72 against them. They led by as many as 14.
12/22 vs DEN 129-132 — NOP notes
NOP lost 129-132 in 1 overtime. NOP took 11 more shots (108 to 97), but shot 46% to DEN's 51%, 12 of 40 from three, and got to the line 23 times to DEN's 32. NOP turned it over 13 times to DEN's 22. The glass went 43-54 against them. Hawkins led with 25 (9 of 18, 5 of 13 from three); McCollum added 24, Missi 21. Q2 was theirs, 38-31, but the other 4 periods went 101-91 against them. They led by as many as 17. Green's -12 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 vs HOU 111-128 — NOP notes
NOP lost 111-128. NOP shot 43% (43 of 99) to HOU's 47%, 12 of 37 from three. The glass went 44-54 against them. Murphy III led with 21 (7 of 16, 4 of 9 from three); Murray added 17, Boston 17. Q4 was theirs, 37-26, the deficit cut from 28 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 102-74 against them. Murphy III's -30 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/27 vs MEM 124-132 — NOP notes
NOP lost 124-132. NOP shot 45% (43 of 96) to MEM's 47%, 11 of 38 from three, and got to the line 29 times to MEM's 35. Murphy III led with 35 (10 of 21, 5 of 12 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); McCollum added 32, Murray 15. Q4 was theirs, 36-28, the deficit cut from 16 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 104-88 against them. McCollum's -16 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/30 vs LAC 113-116 — NOP notes
NOP lost 113-116. NOP shot 51% (42 of 82) to LAC's 48%, 18 of 37 from three, and got to the line 14 times to LAC's 27. McCollum led with 33 (12 of 25, 8 of 14 from three); Murphy III added 18, Jones 18. Q1 was theirs, 37-31, but the other 3 periods went 85-76 against them. They led by as many as 14. Hawkins's -7 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/01 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Herro at 23 and Adebayo at 16 a game. Without Butler III (5 straight), Richardson (17 straight). 2 days' rest. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Murphy III at 24 and McCollum at 23 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Williamson (24 straight), Alvarado (22 straight), Payton (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 105 a night to New Orleans's 122. Call it Miami 115, New Orleans 108.
1/03 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 125, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Murphy III at 26 and McCollum at 25 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Williamson (25 straight), Alvarado (23 straight), Payton (12 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Poole at 29 and Brogdon at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Holmes (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it New Orleans 118, Washington 116, Washington keeping it close.
1/05 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Poole at 27 and Brogdon at 16 a game. Without Holmes (5 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; McCollum at 30 and Murphy III at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Williamson (26 straight), Payton (13 straight), Matković (14 straight). One day's rest.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Washington has been minus-1 a night and New Orleans minus-6. Call it Washington 119, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.
1/07 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; McCollum at 32 and Murphy III at 25 a game. Without Williamson (27 straight), Green (2 straight), Payton (14 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Reid at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-5 a night and New Orleans minus-3 and the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 16 times a game to New Orleans's 12. Call it New Orleans 114, Minnesota 111, Minnesota keeping it close.
12/19 @ DAL 118-95 — LAC notes
LAC won 118-95. LAC shot 52% (44 of 85) to DAL's 40%, 14 of 33 from three, and got to the line 17 times to DAL's 28. Powell led with 29 (10 of 19, 4 of 8 from three); Harden added 24, Zubac 21. The hinge was Q3, 39-28: a lead of 1 became 12, and the lead reached 23. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
12/21 @ DAL 97-113 — LAC notes
LAC lost 97-113. LAC shot 42% (34 of 81) to DAL's 45%, 10 of 37 from three. LAC turned it over 17 times to DAL's 11, and DAL turned those into 12 steals. Powell led with 28 (8 of 22, 3 of 11 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Harden added 19, Porter Jr. 19. Q3 was theirs, 26-20, the deficit cut from 14 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 93-71 against them. Porter Jr.'s -16 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 @ MEM 114-110 — LAC notes
LAC won 114-110. LAC shot 44% (42 of 96) to MEM's 38%, 9 of 27 from three. Powell led with 29 (10 of 20, 4 of 8 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Harden added 21, Zubac 20. The hinge was Q3, 40-32: LAC came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 1. LAC trailed 51-58 at the half and won the second half 63-52. Zubac was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
12/27 vs GSW 102-92 — LAC notes
LAC won 102-92. LAC shot 53% (40 of 75) to GSW's 37%, 10 of 32 from three. LAC turned it over 21 times to GSW's 14, and GSW turned those into 14 steals. Powell led with 26 (10 of 20, 2 of 7 from three); Harden added 18, Zubac 17. The hinge was Q3, 32-19: a lead of 6 became 19. Powell was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
12/30 @ NOP 116-113 — LAC notes
LAC won 116-113. LAC shot 48% (41 of 86) to NOP's 51%, 13 of 37 from three, and went to the line 27 times to NOP's 14 — 21 points from the stripe to their 11. Powell led with 35 (13 of 27, 4 of 12 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Harden added 27, Zubac 20. The hinge was Q4, 29-23: LAC came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 3. LAC trailed 56-62 at the half and won the second half 60-51.
12/31 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 104, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 30 and Vassell at 14 a game. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 105, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Powell at 29 and Harden at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Mann (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 17 times a game to San Antonio's 13. Call it San Antonio 110, the Clippers 107, the Clippers keeping it close.
1/02 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 37 and Jal. Williams at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holmgren (22 straight), Caruso (4 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 22 free throws a game; Powell at 27 and Harden at 20 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mann (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 17 times a game to OKC's 10 and the glass, where OKC has been minus-1 a night and the Clippers minus-5. Call it OKC 114, the Clippers 104, OKC by 10.
1/04 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Powell at 22 and Harden at 21 a game. Without Mann (11 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Young at 27 and Johnson at 23 a game. Without Nance Jr. (3 straight), Wallace (2 straight), Gueye (27 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 17 times a game to Atlanta's 12 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 111 a night to Atlanta's 122. Call it the Clippers 115, Atlanta 113, Atlanta keeping it close.
1/06 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Edwards at 25 and Randle at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Powell at 20 and Harden at 18 a game. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 41 percent from three to the Clippers' 33. Call it Minnesota 110, the Clippers 109, the Clippers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LACAC A. Coffey
DJ D. Jones Jr.
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
KD K. Dunn
KP K. Porter Jr.
MB M. Bamba
NB N. Batum
NP N. Powell
NOPBB B. Boston
CM C. McCollum
DM D. Murray
DT D. Theis
HJ H. Jones
JG J. Green
JH J. Hawkins
TM T. Murphy III
YM Y. Missi
LAC/NOP 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
Powell and Harden lift the Clippers to a 116-113 comeback victory over the skidding Pelicans
NEW ORLEANS -- — Norman Powell scored 35 points, James Harden hit go-ahead free throws with 17.9 seconds left and the Los Angeles 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 game, Harden adroitly fouled rookie center Yves Missi , whose 12-point, nine-rebound and five-block 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.
Ivica Zubac won the tip back to Harden, who made two more free throws with less than two seconds remaining to complete his 27-point performance. CJ McCollum shot from half court and hit the front rim.
Zubac finished with 20 points and 16 rebounds for the Clippers, who've won three straight and five of six.
The Pelicans led by as many as 14 points when Trey Murphy's 3 made it 59-45 late in the second quarter. But the Clippers closed the half on an 11-3 run.
Los Angeles trailed most of the game and never led by more than four.
McCollum hit eight 3s and led New Orleans with 33 points. Murphy and Herb Jones each scored 18, while Dejounte Murray had 13 points, 10 rebounds and six steals.
Takeaways Clippers: Advantages of 40-35 in rebounding, 56-44 in paint points and 21-11 in made free throws allowed Los Angeles to weather one of New Orleans' better performances in the past month.
Pelicans: Hitting a season-best 18 3s in a game still wasn't enough.
Key stat The Clippers converted 14 offensive rebounds into 20 second-chance points.
Up next The Clippers visit San Antonio on Tuesday night. The Pelicans visit Miami on Wednesday.