Clippers defeat Pelicans to clinch eighth place and two play-in chances

One of many inclusions on the Clippers’ scouting report of New Orleans was a little-publicized guard whose defensive technique is exclusive, and had turn out to be so well-known that the NBA not too long ago spliced collectively his highlights.

When opponents inbound the ball, the slight, 6-foot guard hides himself within the nook of a court docket, then races up behind a dribbler unaware of his presence to poke the ball away. When Portland coach Chauncey Billups referred to as his pal, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, on Sunday to warn him towards the trick that had not too long ago led to a number of Path Blazers turnovers, Lue let him know he was already planning to have his workforce watch movie of Jose Alvarado earlier than tipoff towards the Pelicans.

Possibly it was Lue’s reminder. Possibly it was his roster’s motivation of understanding what Sunday was price. However both method, neither Alvarado nor the Pelicans sneaked up and stunned the Clippers in a 119-100 victory that clinched them the Western Convention’s eighth-best document.

In years previous, clinching eighth would assure a first-round collection towards the convention’s high seed. Within the period of the play-in event, it nonetheless holds worth. The winner of the seven-versus-eight recreation earns the seventh general seed whereas the loser has one other alternative to advance by taking part in the winner of the nine-versus-10 recreation.

“I imply it’s not win or go residence or end-all, be-all, however this is a vital recreation,” Lue stated earlier than tipoff. “If we win tonight we perceive we’ve got that eight spot and we’ve got an opportunity within the play-in recreation to play two video games to win one, so it’s essential and so it’s an enormous recreation for us.”

Marcus Morris Sr. made his first three photographs and eight of his 13 general to attain a team-high 22 factors for the Clippers (39-40), who additionally acquired 16 factors and 14 rebounds from Ivica Zubac and 15 factors and 7 assists for Paul George.

The lone outlier on an in any other case simple offensive night time was Reggie Jackson, who left a number of soar photographs quick, hitting the entrance of the rim, en route to creating 4 of his 19 photographs and one in every of his 9 three-pointers. But he additionally added 10 assists towards simply two turnovers.

With eighth locked up, the Clippers have choices to make with video games towards Phoenix, Sacramento and Oklahoma Metropolis remaining: use the time to relaxation or ramp up? With two days off earlier than every of their subsequent two video games, the reply doubtless consists of a few of every given that point off will afford the Clippers observe time to make use of for his or her sharpening moderately than video games.

The chance stays that guard Norman Powell, sidelined since Feb. 10 with a fractured medial sesamoid bone in his foot, may be a part of them on the observe ground. Powell was the final Clipper on the court docket earlier than tipoff Sunday, understanding with coaches on a collection of capturing and agility drills that included some explosive jumps, his first public exercise for the reason that harm three video games into his Clippers tenure. Lue stated he didn’t know whether or not Powell would observe both of the next two days.

Up 11 factors with 9:05 to play earlier than halftime, the Clippers’ lead by no means once more dipped into single digits and grew to 22 at halftime and as many as 26 with 9 minutes to play.

After three video games that includes prolonged stretches of sturdy power and correct capturing, Lue stated earlier than tipoff that an offense that has ranked within the NBA’s backside tier for a lot of the season was “trending in the precise path.” And that was earlier than watching the Clippers rip by the Pelicans, which had crushed them thrice earlier this season, behind holding New Orleans to only 44 first-half factors whereas making 12 of their first 19 three-pointers.

They’d end 21 of 44 from deep, the primary time in franchise historical past they’ve made not less than 20 in three consecutive video games to compensate for capturing simply 10 free throws — 17 fewer than New Orleans tried — whereas aiding on 33 of their 45 baskets.

An informal observer would have by no means identified the Clippers have the third-worst transition offense when it comes to effectivity when Nicolas Batum surgically threaded a move surgically previous the attain of Jonas Valanciunas for a second-quarter layup to Jackson, or when Jackson flipped a no-look move behind his head for a dunk by Terance Mann.