The New Orleans Pelicans head to Inglewood to face the Los Angeles Clippers in a matchup that means very different things for each team. While the Pelicans are playing out the string on an injury-riddled season, the Clippers are jockeying for playoff positioning in the tight Western Conference race.
Clippers Fighting for a Top-Six Spot
With just a handful of games left, the Clippers are fighting to avoid the play-in tournament. Sitting in eighth place, they’re within striking distance of the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies. The schedule favors Los Angeles as they kick off a five-game homestand. Still, they can’t afford to take any opponent lightly—especially a Pelicans team that has dominated them in recent years.
James Harden and Kawhi Leonard have been leading the way offensively. The Clippers went 8-2 in their last 10 games, averaging 120 points per contest while holding opponents to just 104.7. Leonard has appeared in eight of those, averaging 26.0 points, while Harden has played in all 10, posting averages of 23.9 points, 7.6 assists, and 5.8 rebounds.
Pelicans Dealing with Injuries and Uncertainty
It has been a brutal season for the Pelicans, and the injury list keeps growing. With several key players sidelined, New Orleans has been forced to lean on its young players. That means big minutes for rookies like Antonio Reeves and Keion Brooks Jr., who have taken advantage of their opportunities in recent games.
Despite the adversity, the Pelicans showed some fight in their last outing, edging the Charlotte Hornets 98-94 behind strong performances from Reeves, Brooks, and veteran Jose Alvarado. Assistant coach James Borrego took over head coaching duties in that game, with Willie Green away for personal reasons, and he spoke about the challenges of managing an ever-changing lineup.
“I’m not sure I’ve been a part of a season like this before,” Borrego said. “But it’s a great opportunity for our young guys to grow.”
Season Series on the Line
The Pelicans and Clippers split their first two meetings, with Los Angeles winning a tight one in December and New Orleans responding with a 127-120 victory at home in March. Wednesday’s game will determine the season series winner, and while the Pelicans won’t be in the playoffs, a victory would be another small bright spot in an otherwise bleak season.
Yves Missi continues to be a force on the offensive glass, ranking among the league’s best in offensive rebounding. If the Pelicans can control second-chance opportunities and get hot from deep—where Reeves has been lights out since the All-Star break—they could make things interesting against the heavily favored Clippers.
Most Recent Starting Lineups
| Los Angeles Clippers | New Orleans Pelicans |
| G – James Harden | G – Jose Alvarado |
| G – Kris Dunn | G – Antonio Reeves |
| F – Norman Powell | F – Bruce Brown |
| F – Kawhi Leonard | F – Kelly Olynyk |
| C – Ivica Zubac | F – Yves Missi |
Injuries
Los Angeles Clippers: Amir Coffey (knee) and Jordan Miller (hamstring) are OUT.
New Orleans Pelicans: Brandon Boston (left ankle stress reaction), Jordan Hawkins (back), Herb Jones (right shoulder torn rotator cuff), Trey Murphy (right shoulder), CJ McCollum (right foot contusion), Dejounte Murray (right Achilles rupture), and Zion Williamson (low back contusion) are OUT.
Who: New Orleans Pelicans (21-54) vs Los Angeles Clippers (43-32)
Season Series:
- Oct. 29: Warriors def. Pelicans, 124-106
- Oct. 30: Warriors def. Pelicans, 104-89
- Nov. 22: Warriors def. Pelicans, 112-108
- Mar. 28: Pelicans vs. Warriors
Series History: The New Orleans Pelicans are 44-33 all-time against the Los Angeles Clippers and have won three of the last four in the series.
Where: Intuit Dome
When: Apr. 2, 9:30 PM CT
Where to watch: Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network
Where to listen: WWL Radio 870 AM/105.3 FM
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