NEW ORLEANS — Zion Williamson scored 34 points and the New Orleans Pelicans beat Los Angeles 112-104 Friday night, moving to within two games of the Clippers for fourth place in the Western Conference.
New Orleans also won the season series, 3-1. The fourth and fifth seeds will meet in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and the Pelicans would hold the regular season head-to-head tiebreaker against the Clippers, should it be midway -april.
Spending most of the game as New Orleans’ primary ball handler, Williamson sparked the Pelicans’ offense and eventually took control of the game, scoring time and time again on explosive moves to the hoop, both powerful and devious.
Trey Murphy III scored 14 points and Brandon Ingram 13 for New Orleans, which made five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to keep the Clippers at bay.
Paul George scored 26 points and Kawhi Leonard had 23 for Los Angeles, which played without James Harden (sprained left shoulder) for a second straight game. Harden is averaging 17.4 points this season.
Norman Powell scored 15 points for the Clippers, the 51st time in 65 games played this season that he has scored at least 10 points coming off the bench.
The Clippers were as close as 100-96 after Ivica Zubac’s inside basket with 6:21 left. But the Pelicans didn’t let the game get any closer. Williamson responded with a short hook shot, Ingram hit a 3 and Larry Nance Jr., who had 12 points, scored two clutch baskets inside before Williamson finished it off with a layup of conduct.
FOLLOWING
Clippers: Host Atlanta on Sunday night.
Pelicans: Host the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night.
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