At the moment, Few if any NBA teams can match the Los Angeles Clippers. They return home from their seven-game road trip to face the Pelicans, where LA won six of seven during that stretch. Sitting at 34-15 with the league’s third-best net rating (+6.3), the Clippers are a formidable matchup.
Kawhi Leonard’s dominance this season fuels the Clippers, as his play has propelled him into the MVP discussion. His defense is returning to high-level form. Scoring 26.1 points a night on elite efficiency (64.6% true shooting, 45.7% from three) feels pedestrian for Leonard.
LA’s success coincides with James Harden’s return to All-NBA level play this season. As he distances himself from his lower body injuries, his athleticism is returning. Aside from his elite passing and off-dribble shotmaking, Harden is excelling as a downhill threat and is competing on defense. He fits smoothly off of the ball, more willing and capable than ever playing off of the other stars’ gravity.
The Clippers’ stars aside, the Pelicans must limit their scorching three-point attack. Though LA doesn’t take a ton of threes, they’re the most efficient shooting team in the league from beyond the arc at 39.9%. New Orleans’ defense has allowed the second-lowest opponent three-point percentage this season (34.3%) but gives up the most attempts per game (39.2) of any team in the NBA.
In their previous matchup, the Clippers torched the Pels from three-point land, nailing 41.7% of their 36 attempts. Six of those threes came from Paul George, who jets around screens and punishes teams who index too strongly on the Clips’ other scorers. He’s a nightmare to guard, especially for a defense like New Orleans’ who wants to pack the paint and deter drives.
Take this play for example; Herb Jones often parks in the paint to take away drives and passes to the rim, relying on his great speed and length to recover to shooters. This works against most teams and players but not James Harden and Paul George, who rises over even the best defenders:
If Ivica Zubac doesn’t play on Wednesday, the Pelicans could look to exploit the Clippers’ sometimes porous interior defense with their anchor sidelined. Zion Williamson can exploit Mason Plumlee’s athletic limitations as a downhill threat, so being aggressive to the rim could lead to good offense against the Clippers in this matchup.
As cliche as it sounds, the Pelicans must play consistently strong basketball for four quarters, as the Clippers can decimate teams quickly as they did to New Orleans in the second quarter of the last matchup. Walking into LA and knock off the red-hot Clippers would mark a statement win for the Pelicans at this point of the season.
Analysis by Ben Pfeifer
Most Recent Starting Lineups
| New Orleans Pelicans | Los Angeles Clippers |
| G – CJ McCollum | G – James Harden |
| G – Herbert Jones | G – Paul George |
| F – Brandon Ingram | F – Terance Mann |
| F – Zion Williamson | F – Kawhi Leonard |
| C – Jonas Valanciunas | C – Mason Plumlee |
Injuries
New Orleans Pelicans: Naji Marshall (back) and Zion Williamson (foot) are QUESTIONABLE.
Los Angeles Clippers: Moussa Diabate (hip) is OUT.
Who: New Orleans Pelicans (29-21) at Los Angeles Clippers (34-15)
Season Series
- Nov. 24: Pelicans def. Clippers, 116-106 (In-Season Tournament)
- Jan. 5: Clippers def. Pelicans, 111-95
- Feb. 7: Pelicans at Clippers
- Mar. 15: Clippers at Pelicans
Where: Crypto.com Arena
When: Feb. 7, 9:00 PM CST
Where to watch: Bally Sports New Orleans I ESPN
Where to listen: WRNO 99.5
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