Game ID: 22501005
LA Clippers @ New Orleans Pelicans
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NOP 26 34 36 28 124LAC 40 20 25 24 109
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 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Poole missed 4 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 3/05, returns tonight: 19 min (117% of 17)
OUT Looney missed 9 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 3 since 3/03, returns tonight: 4 min (31% of 14)
OUT Alexander missed 25 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 3/01 after 5, 34 min since (96% of 36)
BACK Missi back 2/28 after 5, 14 min since (71% of 20)
BACK Peavy back 2/28 after 5, 2 min since (14% of 15)
NOP availability going into 3/11 · 2 days' restOUT Poole missed 5 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 10 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 26 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 3/01 after 5, 33 min since (93% of 36)
BACK Jordan back 3/08 after 2, 19 min since (117% of 17)
BACK Hawkins back 3/08 after 3, 4 min since (31% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT Poole missed 6 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 11 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 27 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/08 after 2, 16 min since (98% of 17)
BACK Hawkins back 3/08 after 3, 3 min since (21% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/16 · 2 days' restOUT Poole missed 7 since 3/01, returns tonight: 18 min (76% of 24)
OUT McGowens missed 2 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 12 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 28 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/08 after 2, 16 min since (98% of 17)
BACK Hawkins back 3/08 after 3, 3 min since (21% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT McGowens missed 3 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 13 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 29 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Poole back 3/16 after 7, 18 min since (76% of 24)
BACK Hawkins back 3/08 after 3, 2 min since (18% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/19 · back-to-backOUT McGowens missed 4 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 3 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 14 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 30 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Poole back 3/16 after 7, 18 min since (76% of 24)
BACK Hawkins back 3/08 after 3, 2 min since (18% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT McGowens missed 5 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 4 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Peavy missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 15 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 31 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Poole back 3/16 after 7, 18 min since (74% of 24)
NEW Matković 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/24 · 2 days' restOUT McGowens missed 6 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 5 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Peavy missed 3 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 16 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 3 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 32 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Poole back 3/16 after 7, 18 min since (74% of 24)
NEW Missi 20 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Matković 15 to 20 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT Poole missed 2 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT McGowens missed 7 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 6 since 3/13, returns tonight: 17 min (101% of 17)
OUT Peavy missed 4 since 3/18, returns tonight: 4 min (23% of 15)
OUT Looney missed 17 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 4 since 3/18, returns tonight: 22 min (163% of 14)
OUT Alexander missed 33 since 1/11, out tonight
NEW Matković 15 to 21 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Collins missed 5 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 6 since 3/01, out tonight
LAC availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT Collins missed 6 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 7 since 3/01, out tonight
LAC availability going into 3/14 · back-to-backOUT Collins missed 7 since 3/02, returns tonight: 20 min (74% of 27)
OUT Bogdanović missed 8 since 3/01, out tonight
NEW Jones Jr. 27 to 32 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Bogdanović missed 9 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Collins back 3/14 after 7, 20 min since (74% of 27)
LAC availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Bogdanović missed 10 since 3/01, returns tonight: 5 min (24% of 20)
BACK Collins back 3/14 after 7, 23 min since (84% of 27)
LAC availability going into 3/19 · back-to-backBACK Collins back 3/14 after 7, 23 min since (86% of 27)
BACK Bogdanović back 3/18 after 10, 5 min since (24% of 20)
LAC availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Batum missed 2 since 3/18, returns tonight: 20 min (117% of 18)
BACK Collins back 3/14 after 7, 24 min since (90% of 27)
BACK Bogdanović back 3/18 after 10, 16 min since (81% of 20)
NEW Miller 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Lopez 22 to 27 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 3 since 3/18, out tonight
BACK Collins back 3/14 after 7, 25 min since (93% of 27)
BACK Bogdanović back 3/18 after 10, 16 min since (81% of 20)
BACK Batum back 3/21 after 2, 20 min since (117% of 18)
NEW Lopez 22 to 28 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 4 since 3/18, returns tonight: 27 min (96% of 28)
BACK Bogdanović back 3/18 after 10, 13 min since (67% of 20)
BACK Batum back 3/21 after 2, 21 min since (119% of 18)
NEW Lopez 22 to 28 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 34 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Williamson at 21 a game. Without McGowens (3 straight), Jordan (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 28 free throws a game; Leonard at 33 and Garland at 24 a game. They have lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Bogdanović (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-2 a night and the Clippers minus-9 and the line, where New Orleans takes 34 free throws a game to the Clippers' 28. Call it New Orleans 118, the Clippers 117, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/08 vs WAS 138-118 — NOP notes
NOP won 138-118. NOP shot 53% (47 of 89) to WAS's 45%, 7 of 23 from three, and went to the line 47 times to WAS's 27 — 37 points from the stripe to their 22. NOP turned it over 8 times to WAS's 17. Murphy III led with 24 (7 of 14, 4 of 9 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Bey added 23, Williamson 20. The hinge was Q4, 36-25: a lead of 9 became 20, and the lead reached 23. Queen was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/11 vs TOR 122-111 — NOP notes
NOP won 122-111. NOP shot 51% (45 of 88) to TOR's 41%, 14 of 29 from three. Murphy III led with 28 (8 of 12, 5 of 8 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Murray added 27, Williamson 19. The hinge was Q3, 33-25: a lead of 2 became 10, and the lead reached 18. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/13 @ HOU 105-107 — NOP notes
NOP lost 105-107. NOP shot 44% (37 of 84) to HOU's 43%, 13 of 32 from three, and went to the line 26 times to HOU's 17 — 18 points from the stripe to their 13. Murray led with 35 (14 of 18, 4 of 5 from three); Williamson added 21, Murphy III 14. Q4 was theirs, 33-27, the deficit cut from 8 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 80-72 against them. Bey's -15 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/16 vs DAL 129-111 — NOP notes
NOP won 129-111. NOP shot 51% (48 of 95) to DAL's 42%, 11 of 35 from three, and went to the line 34 times to DAL's 14 — 22 points from the stripe to their 9. Williamson led with 27 (11 of 13, 5 of 9 at the line); Bey added 23, Murphy III 17. The hinge was Q2, 35-28: a lead of 6 became 13, and the lead reached 19. Matković was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/18 vs LAC 124-109 — NOP notes
NOP won 124-109. NOP shot 53% (44 of 83) to LAC's 51%, 16 of 37 from three, and went to the line 21 times to LAC's 13 — 20 points from the stripe to their 10. Bey led with 25 (10 of 21, 5 of 10 from three); Murphy III added 23, Murray 17. The hinge was Q2, 34-20: NOP came in trailing by 14 and left it level, and the lead reached 20. Matković was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/19 vs LAC — 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 124 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 30 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Murphy III at 21 a game. Without McGowens (4 straight), Jordan (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 119, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 32 and Mathurin at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-3 a night and the Clippers minus-7 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 111 a night to the Clippers' 119. Call it New Orleans 119, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/21 vs CLE — 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 107, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Murphy III at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without McGowens (5 straight), Jordan (4 straight), Peavy (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Harden at 25 and Mobley at 24 a game. Without Allen (7 straight), Porter Jr. (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 107 a night to Cleveland's 118 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 15 times a game to Cleveland's 12. Call it New Orleans 118, Cleveland 116, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/24 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 103, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 25 and Towns at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without McBride (26 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murray at 21 and Williamson at 20 a game. Without McGowens (6 straight), Jordan (5 straight), Peavy (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-12 a night and New Orleans minus-2. Call it New York 116, New Orleans 110.
3/26 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Duren at 26 and Jenkins at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Cunningham (4 straight), Stewart (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bey at 21 and Williamson at 21 a game. Without Poole (2 straight), McGowens (7 straight), Jordan (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-5 a night and New Orleans minus-2 and the arc, New Orleans at 37 percent from three to Detroit's 33. Call it Detroit 117, New Orleans 113, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/11 vs MIN 153-128 — LAC notes
LAC won 153-128. LAC shot 63% (52 of 82) to MIN's 60%, 19 of 37 from three, and went to the line 36 times to MIN's 29 — 30 points from the stripe to their 25. LAC turned it over 10 times to MIN's 21. Leonard led with 45 (15 of 20, 6 of 9 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Mathurin added 22, Garland 21. The hinge was Q4, 44-30: a lead of 11 became 25, and the lead reached 31. Leonard was the night's best plus/minus at +41.
3/13 vs CHI 119-108 — LAC notes
LAC won 119-108. LAC shot 48% (46 of 96) to CHI's 44%, 9 of 32 from three, and went to the line 24 times to CHI's 13 — 18 points from the stripe to their 12. LAC turned it over 6 times to CHI's 13. Leonard led with 28 (8 of 22, 2 of 6 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Mathurin added 26, J. Miller 14. The hinge was Q1, 33-28: from level to 5 ahead. Dunn was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
3/14 vs SAC 109-118 — LAC notes
LAC lost 109-118. LAC shot 46% (39 of 84) to SAC's 59%, 9 of 27 from three, and went to the line 29 times to SAC's 16 — 22 points from the stripe to their 10. LAC turned it over 13 times to SAC's 19. The glass went 35-48 against them. Leonard led with 31 (13 of 23, 2 of 6 from three, 3 of 6 at the line); Garland added 25, Mathurin 24. Q4 was theirs, 34-26, the deficit cut from 17 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 92-75 against them. Jones Jr.'s -16 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/16 vs SAS 115-119 — LAC notes
LAC lost 115-119. LAC shot 48% (43 of 89) to SAS's 46%, 11 of 29 from three. The glass went 37-52 against them. Garland led with 25 (9 of 21, 4 of 9 from three); Miller added 22, Mathurin 16. Q1 was theirs, 37-29, but the other 3 periods went 90-78 against them. They led by as many as 14. Collins's -18 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/18 @ NOP 109-124 — LAC notes
LAC lost 109-124. LAC shot 51% (45 of 88) to NOP's 53%, 9 of 31 from three, and got to the line 13 times to NOP's 21. Leonard led with 25 (9 of 12, 4 of 6 from three); Collins added 18, Garland 13. Q1 was theirs, 40-26, but the other 3 periods went 98-69 against them. They led by as many as 18. Miller's -15 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/19 @ NOP — 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 124 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 30 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Murphy III at 21 a game. Without McGowens (4 straight), Jordan (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 119, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 32 and Mathurin at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-3 a night and the Clippers minus-7 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 111 a night to the Clippers' 119. Call it New Orleans 119, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/21 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 127, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Flagg at 21 and Washington at 18 a game. 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 28 and Mathurin at 22 a game. That is 4 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Mathurin (2 straight), Batum (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-7 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 115 a night to Dallas's 127. Call it Dallas 117, the Clippers 116, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/23 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Garland at 26 a game. They have lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Mathurin (3 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Rollins at 20 and Portis at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Porter Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Clippers 117, Milwaukee 112.
3/25 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 2-3 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 115, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 29 and Garland at 24 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Mathurin (4 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 117, shooting 54 percent and 39 from three, 27 free throws a game; Barrett at 22 and Ingram at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Toronto has been plus-0 a night and the Clippers minus-6 and the line, where Toronto takes 27 free throws a game to the Clippers' 21. Call it the Clippers 117, Toronto 114, Toronto keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NOPDM D. Murray
DQ D. Queen
HJ H. Jones
JF J. Fears
KM K. Matković
SB S. Bey
TM T. Murphy III
YM Y. Missi
ZW Z. Williamson
LACBB B. Bogdanović
BL B. Lopez
BO Bogdanovic
CC C. Christie
DG D. Garland
DJ D. Jones Jr.
IJ I. Jackson
JC J. Collins
JM J. Miller
KD K. Dunn
KL K. Leonard
KS K. Sanders
SP S. Pedulla
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
Bey scores 25 points and Murphy 23 to pace Pelicans to 124-109 victory over Clippers
NEW ORLEANS -- — Saddiq Bey scored 25 points, Trey Murphy added 23 and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame an early 18-point hole to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 124-109 on Wednesday night.
Dejounte Murray had 17 points and 11 assists, while Zion Williamson and rookie Derrick Queen each scored 14 for the Pelicans, who received a standing ovation as the final seconds wound down on their sixth straight victory at home and ninth win in their past 13 games overall
Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points and John Collins added 18 for the Clippers, who dropped a game below .500 (34-35), but maintained a tenuous hold on the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference standings, a half-game ahead of Portland.
Bey hit five of 10 3-point shots to help New Orleans go 16 of 37 (43.2%) from deep. The Pelicans also made 20 of 21 free throws, with Queen making all nine of his.
Pelicans rookie guard Jeremiah Fears chipped in 11 points off the bench.
Murphy made his 200th 3 of the season late in the third quarter to give New Orleans an 89-81 lead. His fourth make from deep made it 94-81 in the final minute of the period, which ended with New Orleans leading 96-85.
Murphy's double-clutch dunk over Brook Lopez to close out a fast break spawned by Herb Jones' steal gave New Orleans a 117-101 lead with 4:43 left, and the Pelicans led by as many as 20 in the final minutes.
New Orleans committed eight turnovers in the first nine minutes, and the Clippers converted those into nine points while building a 33-18 lead.
Leonard scored 12 of his points during that stint and the Clippers led by as many as 18 during the opening quarter before the Pelicans trimmed it to 40-26 on Murphy's free throws.
New Orleans came all the way back to tie it at 58 on Murphy's 3 late in the second quarter.
Leonard and Murphy traded baskets in the final 10 seconds before halftime, with Murphy tying it at 60 on a high, driving floater in traffic.
Up next The Clippers and Pelicans face each other for a second straight game in New Orleans on Thursday night.