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Clippers’ win streak stopped by Zion Williamson, Pelicans – San Bernardino Sun

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Clippers guard James Harden tries to maintain control of the ball while teammate Ivica Zubac, left, sets a pick on New Orleans Pelicans forward Bruce Brown during the first half on Tuesday night in New Orleans. Harden had 25 points and 17 assists, but the Clippers lost, 127-120. (AP Photo/Peter Forest)

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NEW ORLEANS — In their quest to avoid the Play-In Tournament, the Clippers can’t afford to squander games against draft lottery-bound teams.

They did just that to begin their three-game Eastern trip, erasing all of a 21-point first-half deficit before falling to the New Orleans Pelicans, 127-120, on Tuesday night. Zion Williamson had his second career triple-double (22 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds) just 11 days after recording his first one as the Pelicans snapped a four-game slide.

Kawhi Leonard scored a game-high 29 points and James Harden added 25 points and 17 assist for the Clippers (35-30), who had won three straight but didn’t take their first lead until Ivica Zubac dunked off a Harden lob with 5:08 left in third quarter. Zubac had 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. each scored 11 points.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue missed his second straight game because of back pain, with assistant coach Brian Shaw again assuming his duties for the night.

The Pelicans (18-48) built their big first-half cushion when the Clippers missed 13 of their first 14 3-point attempts, then rallied back in front late in the third quarter and held off the Clippers thanks in large part to Williamson. The athletic, 6-foot-6, 280-pound forward had 10 points, five rebounds and five assists in the fourth quarter, invigorating the crowd with one clutch play after another.

CJ McCollum had 23 points and seven assists and Trey Muphy III added 21 points for New Orleans, highlighted by his reverse alley-oop dunk off of a McCollum lob. Rookie center Karlo Matkovic chipped in 15 points, Jose Alvarado scored 14 and Bruce Brown scored 12.

The Clippers cut the Pelicans’ lead to 10 points by halftime. A Nicolas Batum 3-pointer capped a 7-0 run that got them within 65-62 early in the third quarter, but New Orleans built its lead back to seven points before Leonard made two 3-pointers and Harden sank one during an 11-2 run that gave the visitors their first lead of the game, 77-75.

New Orleans scored the next five points and the lead changed hands two more times before Murphy made two 3-pointers and McCollum hit one. Then Williamson converted on a coast-to-coast drive and dunk for a 98-90 lead in the final seconds of the third – and threw a couple triumphant punches at the padding under the basket, setting the tone for his dominant finish.

Alvarado made 3-pointers to start and finish a 12-3 run as New Orleans expanded its lead to 17. The Clippers chipped away and got back within four with 2:33 left, but Williamson responded by scoring on a drive.

The Clippers got within three before Williamson made two free throws and fed Alvarado for a layup with 24 seconds left that made it 123-116.

The Pelicans built an 11-point lead before the Clippers trimmed the margin to 28-21 at the end of the first quarter.

New Orleans used a 15-2 run that featured seven straight points from Matkovic to produce a 20-point lead. The Clippers crept within 13 points before Alvarado made two 3-pointers and the Pelicans seized their biggest lead at 55-34.

The Pelicans shot 55% from the field, including a 17-for-31 showing from 3-point range, to go with a 46-34 rebounding advantage.

The Clippers shot 49.5% overall and 14 for 42 from behind the arc but probably didn’t do enough with 19 Pelicans turnovers.

UP NEXT

The Clippers visit Miami on Wednesday at 5 p.m. PT.



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