Clippers can’t sustain strong start in loss to Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS — The Clippers had Kawhi Leonard back and an early 18-point lead, but they couldn’t ride that momentum to a victory.

Leonard scored 25 points in his return from a left ankle sprain, but Saddiq Bey scored 25 points, Trey Murphy added 23 and the New Orleans Pelicans dominated the middle two quarters to beat the Clippers, 124-109, on Wednesday night in the opener of a back-to-back set between the teams.

Dejounte Murray had 17 points and a season-high 11 assists, while Zion Williamson and rookie Derrick Queen each scored 14 for the Pelicans (24-46), who received a standing ovation as the final seconds wound down on their sixth straight victory at home and ninth win in their past 13 games overall.

Leonard, who returned from a one-game absence, shot 9 for 12 from the field (4 for 6 from 3-point range) and added eight rebounds and two steals in 29 minutes. He reached 5,000 rebounds for his career as the Clippers dropped their third straight game to fall a game below .500 (34-35) but maintained a tenuous hold on the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference standings, a half-game ahead of Portland (34-36) and one game ahead of Golden State (33-36).

John Collins added 18 points for the Clippers, while Darius Garland and Jordan Miller each scored 13. Veteran guard Kris Dunn scored six points off the bench after starting the previous 62 games. Dunn hadn’t appeared as a reserve since Nov. 3.

Bey shot 5 for 10 from 3-point range to help New Orleans go 16 for 37 (43.2%) from behind the arc. The Pelicans, who finished 53% from the floor, also made 20 of 21 free throws, with Queen making all nine of his.

Pelicans rookie guard Jeremiah Fears chipped in 11 points off the bench.

Murphy made his 200th 3-pointer of the season late in the third quarter to give New Orleans an 89-81 lead. His fourth make from deep made it 94-81 in the final minute of the period, which ended with New Orleans leading 96-85. The Pelicans scored 10 points off of five Clippers turnovers during the third quarter.

A layup from Fears gave the Pelicans a 103-87 lead with 10:17 remaining, but the Clippers pulled within 109-101 with seven minutes left. The Pelicans then took charge with a 12-0 run. Murphy’s double-clutch dunk over Brook Lopez to finish a fast break spawned by Herb Jones’ steal gave New Orleans a 117-101 lead with 4:43 left, and they made it 121-101 just 50 seconds later on a pull-up jumper from Murray.

New Orleans committed eight turnovers in the first nine minutes, and the Clippers converted those into nine points while building a 33-18 lead.

Leonard scored 12 of his points during that stint and the Clippers led by as many as 18 during the opening quarter before the Pelicans trimmed it to 40-26 on Murphy’s free throws.

New Orleans came all the way back to tie it at 58 on a Murphy 3-pointer late in the second quarter. Leonard and Murphy traded baskets in the final 10 seconds before halftime, with Murphy tying it at 60 on a high, driving floater in traffic.

The Pelicans outscored the Clippers 70-45 during the second and third quarters. The Clippers shot 51.7% overall but 9 for 31 (29%) from 3-point range.

Murray was playing his ninth game of the season after returning from a torn Achilles that kept him out for more than a year. He scored a season-best 35 points in his previous game, Friday against the Houston Rockets before sitting out a victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday with an illness.

UP NEXT

The Clippers and Pelicans square off for a second straight game in New Orleans on Thursday at 5 p.m. PT.