Friday evening, the Los Angeles Clippers head to the Smoothie King Center for a road showdown against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Clippers play Thursday night and will be on the second leg of a back-to-back. The Pelicans were crushed by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tip-off is at 8:10 p.m. ET. New Orleans opens as a home favorite.
Back-to-back mowers
Los Angeles will face the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night and will play in the back-to-back rematch for this Western Conference showdown. The Clippers led by 22 points early in the first half before blowing the lead, getting blown out 118-100. Paul George scored 22 points and James Harden dropped 12. After trailing 57-35 midway through the second quarter, Minnesota took control in the second half and staged the team’s biggest comeback since November 2012.
The Wolves took their first lead early in the third quarter and the Clippers mustered just 15 points with nine turnovers in the frame. They have lost back-to-back games for only the second time since December. Kawhi Leonard left the game between the first two quarters. He played the entire first quarter, but was seen leaving the Clippers’ downtown arena during the second quarter. After the game, the Clippers announced that Leonard left due to back spasms and was uncomfortable sitting on the bench, leading him to leave the arena altogether.
Amir Coffey and Norman Powell should get additional minutes in his place for this game against the Bulls, because I can’t imagine Leonard suiting up. Look for Paul George and James Harden to shoulder more of the load with him.
Cavs crush Pelicans
New Orleans fell victim to an in-form Cleveland team en route to a 116-95 home loss. Zion Williamson scored 33 points and nine rebounds and Brandon Ingram scored 20. New Orleans outscored Cleveland 56-52 in the paint and 21-2 at the foul line, but that didn’t matter because the Cavs scored 20 3-pointers.
Cleveland finished 20 of 45 from deep, while the Pelicans made just 4 of 22 from long range in losing for the first time in five games. “We just weren’t on the 3-point line tonight,” Williamson said Associated Press journalists. “But when nights like this come, we have to find other ways to be effective.” The Cavaliers “played with more urgency,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “They were the hungriest team. “We had a disappointment. So, it doesn’t indicate who we were, and the guys know that,” Green added. Zion is averaging 27.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1, 7 blocks while shooting 61.2% from the floor and 82.1% from the free throw line over the last three games. They hold a one-game lead over the Sacramento Kings for the fifth seed .
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Rating:
New Orleans’ last three opponents were missing at least one key player due to injury. Toronto was missing Scottie Barnes, Philadelphia was without Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey and Atlanta was without Trae Young and Jalen Johnson. In this game, Kawhi Leonard will be unavailable after leaving two nights ago with back spasms. I like the Pelicans to get a huge home win against a suddenly exhausted Clippers team. New Orleans is in the top 10 both offensively and defensively and is having a great year in the middle of a loaded Western Conference. They hold a 1.5 game lead over the Phoenix Suns for the fifth seed, and every game against Western Conference foes is important from here on out. Take the Pelicans to win and cover.
Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans ATS
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Rating:
The Pelicans are 16th heading into this crucial West game against the Clippers. Trey Murphy went wild coming off the New Orleans bench. Murphy is averaging 22.2 points per game while shooting 52.9 percent from the field and 48.1 percent from three over his last five games off the bench. Los Angeles will be back to back and will be missing their best defender Kawhi Leonard. They were crushed by the Cavaliers last game, so expect a much better offensive performance here in what should be a big win. Take over.
Prediction: MORE
