Clippers Snap Three-Game Skid With Dominant 137-117 Win Over Pelicans
The Los Angeles Clippers needed this one. After dropping three straight, there was a quiet tension hovering over Intuit Dome on Sunday night — the kind that makes a team either fold or fight. The Clippers chose to fight.
Kawhi Leonard led the charge with 23 points, and from the opening tip, Los Angeles looked like a team with something to prove. They never trailed. Not for a single second.
Clippers Control the Game from Start to Finish
The Clippers jumped out to a 43-32 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. By halftime, Los Angeles held a 76-70 advantage — a lead that felt comfortable but not yet safe. Then came the third quarter. Then the fourth.
The margin swelled to 26 points in the final period. That’s not just a win. That’s a statement.
For a Clippers team sitting 10th in the Western Conference at 28-31, these two points feel bigger than the scoreboard suggests. Momentum is fragile in the NBA. Losing streaks have a way of snowballing. Sunday night, Los Angeles convincingly stopped the bleeding.
Kawhi Leads, but the Supporting Cast Shines
Leonard was efficient if not electric — 23 points on 8-of-18 shooting, with five assists and a plus-minus of +25 that tells you everything you need to know about his impact. He went just 1-of-7 from three, but the Clippers as a team more than compensated. Los Angeles knocked down 17 of 36 attempts from beyond the arc, a blistering 47.2%.
Jordan Miller was outstanding in a supporting role. He finished with 19 points, eight assists, and hit five of his six field goal attempts. There is something quietly special about the way Miller plays — no wasted motion, no bad shots, just consistent, winning basketball.
Derrick Jones Jr. brought energy that this team feeds off, scoring 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting with three triples. Brook Lopez added 16 on four-of-six shooting from three. John Collins chipped in 15. This was a complete team performance, the kind where everyone earns their paycheck.
A Pelicans Team Playing Shorthanded
New Orleans arrived without Zion Williamson, who sat out after tweaking his right ankle in Utah the night before. It was his first absence after a career-high 35 consecutive games played. His absence was felt.
Still, rookie Jeremiah Fears gave the Pelicans faithful a reason to feel good about the future. He poured in a career-high 28 points, connecting on five of six three-point attempts. The kid is fearless — the name fits. Fellow rookie Derik Queen added 19 points, while Dejounte Murray contributed 17 and Trey Murphy III chipped in 16 in his return from a five-game absence due to a right shoulder injury.
But the Pelicans, now 19-43 on the season, simply couldn’t sustain any meaningful run. Every time New Orleans threatened to creep back in, the Clippers had an answer. The turnover battle told the real story — Los Angeles committed just eight turnovers compared to 16 for the Pelicans, and the Clippers outscored New Orleans 36-9 off those miscues.
What This Means for the Clippers
The Western Conference playoff race is ruthless. The Clippers, currently seventh in the Pacific Division and four games below .500, cannot afford the luxury of long losing skids. Every game from here matters.
Monday brings a trip to Golden State, where — in some welcome news — the Warriors will be without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jordan Richard. Gary Payton II is listed as questionable. The schedule has given the Clippers an opening. Whether they walk through it is another question.
One thing is clear after Sunday night: when the Clippers lock in, share the ball, and limit mistakes, they are a dangerous team. The talent has never been in question. The execution just needs to match it — consistently.
