Pelicans earn 105-101 win over Clippers, claim No. 8 seed

A franchise participant out for the season. A primary-year head coach. A 1-12 begin. The New Orleans Pelicans overcame all of it and stormed again to make the playoffs.

Brandon Ingram scored 30 factors and the Pelicans rallied from a 13-point deficit within the fourth quarter to beat the depleted Los Angeles Clippers 105-101 in a play-in Friday night time and earn the West’s No. 8 seed.

“That win was big-time,” Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced stated.

New Orleans blew a 16-point lead within the first half and did not seize the lead for good till the sport’s last 4 1/2 minutes.

“It was an emotional sport, a ton of highs and lows,” Inexperienced stated. “However for us, our mentality is we’re going to proceed to combat. We’re not going to fade out.”

The Pelicans made the playoffs for the primary time since 2017-18, guided by Inexperienced, a former Clipper. They’ve been with out Zion Williamson all season due to a foot harm.

“Beginning off 1-12 and 3-16, you’re considering when is it going to choose up?” rookie Trey Murphy stated. “Being my first yr, I don’t know what successful is like. Have a look at us now.”

CJ McCollum added 19 factors and Larry Nance Jr. had 14 factors and 16 rebounds for New Orleans, which can play No. 1 seed Phoenix within the first spherical. Recreation 1 is Sunday within the desert.

“This staff is resilient,” stated Nance, who was traded, together with McCollum, from Portland in February and just lately returned from knee surgical procedure. “They began 1-12. That’s so onerous to choose your self up from. I’ve been in seasons like that, it’s onerous to maintain going and preserve striving for it.”

New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III celebrates together with teammates on the bench after scoring in the course of the second half of an NBA basketball play-in match sport towards the Los Angeles Clippers Friday, April 15, 2022, in Los Angeles. The Pelicans received 105-101.
(AP Photograph/Mark J. Terrill)

The Clippers have been dealt an enormous blow earlier within the day when Paul George entered the league’s well being and security protocols. They’d already been with out Kawhi Leonard all season whereas he rehabbed an ACL harm. He watched from the bench early within the sport.

Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson every had 27 factors for the Clippers.

“I’m disillusioned in us not with the ability to make the playoffs, irrespective of who was enjoying,” stated Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, who’s lacking the postseason for the primary time as a head coach.

TRAE YOUNG’S 38 LIFT HAWKS PAST CAVS FOR NO. 8 PLAYOFF SEED

The Pelicans shot 57% within the first half and have been higher on the boards, within the paint and off the bench. They led by 16 within the second quarter earlier than the Clippers lower their deficit to 56-46 at halftime.

The Clippers roared again within the third, outscoring the Pelicans 38-18. They opened with a 20-2 run that had the gang on its ft. Jackson scored 10 factors and Morris added six within the spurt.

Robert Covington began the third rather than 7-footer Ivica Zubac and his three-point play gave the Clippers a 75-62 lead, their largest of the sport.

Ingram scored 5 of the Pelicans’ last 12 factors to ship them into the fourth trailing 84-74.

“Simply having religion in one another and staying linked,” Inexperienced stated of the Pelicans’ mindset. “Realizing we took their greatest shot and we’re solely down 10 going into the fourth.”

That’s when New Orleans staged a rally of its personal.

New Orleans Pelicans ahead Brandon Ingram, proper, drives previous Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann in the course of the first half of an NBA basketball play-in match sport Friday, April 15, 2022, in Los Angeles.
(AP Photograph/Mark J. Terrill)

After the Clippers scored to go up by 13 factors, the Pelicans ran off 11 straight factors after which McCollum hit a 3-pointer to tie it, 88-all.

Murphy hit his second 3-pointer of the quarter for an additional tie at 94-all.

That sparked a 10-0 run that gave the Pelicans a 101-94 lead, capped by Murphy’s 3-pointer that bounced on the rim and went in. He was one among three rookies who contributed.

“Murphy had large stones to come back in and make these massive photographs they wanted after they have been struggling to attain the basketball,” Lue stated.

The Clippers twice closed inside two within the last 1:17, however they missed 2 of 4 free throws and Jackson and Morris missed photographs down the stretch to see their season slip away.

“I assumed our guys obtained just a little drained,” Lue stated. “We didn’t proceed to maintain attacking.”

The Clippers, who made the Western Convention finals for the primary time in franchise historical past final yr, additionally have been lacking Luke Kennard. The league’s 3-point proportion chief didn’t play due to a sore proper hamstring that stored him out of the loss at Minnesota on Tuesday within the staff’s first play-in sport.

TIP-INS

Pelicans: That they had received the season sequence, 3-1.

Clippers: Hadn’t missed the playoffs since 2017-18 season. … Nicolas Batum and Terance Mann began rather than George and Kennard … Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, stated Leonard “continues to progress along with his rehab,” however there isn’t any timetable for his return.

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