The New Orleans Pelicans will take on the Los Angeles Clippers with 8th seed in the Western Conference playoff on 16th April 2022.
The winner will travel to Phoenix to take the Suns in the first round of the playoffs and the loser will have to go home disappointed by the long off season.
The Clippers shouldn’t have been here after losing Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for the season, so coach Ty Lue has to give a lot of credit. It’s a well-trained experienced team and even though Pels have blown up the Clippers three times this season, it won’t be easy to beat them on the road in a do-or-die playoff game.
Having lost the last three at an average of 18.6 points, the Clippers beat the Pelicans by 19 in the fourth matchup, so no game has been close between these two teams this season.
After a comeback attempt, the Clippers are not able to maintain their 4th quarter lead in a 105-101 loss to end their season.
For pelicans, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum started the game aggressively. Ingram, who started 8 for 9, had 16 of the 30 points of his team’s 1st quarter.
The Clippers were also unable to include the athleticism of Larry Nancy Jr., who scored eight opening points off the bench in the first half. He finished the game tonight with 14 points and 16 rebounds.
On the other hand, Reggie Jackson continued a trend as the number one choice of the Clippers team that kept the fort locked this season. In the absence of Paul George, Jackson was sometimes the only offensive engine for Los Angeles.
Final Ending Clippers vs Pelicans.
Video Source: Final 2:14 WILD ENDING Pelicans vs Clippers 🔥🔥
Both teams, in the first half, shot worse than three, with 12.5% and 19% shooting by pelicans and clippers, respectively. However, pelicans were able to compensate for this with a strong paint appearance. Matching 34 points and 21 defensive rebels in the restricted area, the New Orleans large bus could not be denied.
The Clippers shot just 6 for 11 from the free throw line in the first half. However, Los Angeles remained within striking distance, reducing the deficit to just 10 points, as they trailed 56-46 to enter halftime.
The Clippers had success that created difficulties for CJ McCollum, especially. With Nicolas Batum and Robert Covington drawing most of McCollum’s assignments during their third quarter run, the defensive-minded forward duo showcased their versatility.
As it has been in all seasons, however, the rebounding crisis continued to upset the shear. Under the leadership of Nance Jr., pelicans achieved 54 rebounds in clippers 45, including several extra shots in the most important moments of the game.