Pelicans ride 21 3-pointers to 131-110 win over Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon, right, shoots as New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. Credit: AP/Mark J. Terrill
LOS ANGELES — Trey Murphy III scored 32 points, Brandon Ingram had 32 points and 13 assists, and the New Orleans Pelicans never trailed in a 131-110 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.
C.J. McCollum had 21 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Pelicans, who have won four in a row.
New Orleans set a season high with 21 3-pointers and shot 61.8% from behind the arc. Murphy was a major reason for that success, making a career-high 10 3s in 12 attempts.
Bones Hyland scored 18 points and Kawhi Leonard added 12 points and six rebounds for the Clippers, who have lost three of four.
At risk of falling out of the play-in tournament with a loss, the energized Pelicans started out hot, scoring the first eight points, and never let up.
New Orleans made seven of its first eight 3-point shots and nine of 11 in the opening quarter to build an 11-point edge.
Murphy was nearly indefensible from deep, making his first five 3s to help the Pelicans open a 19-point lead, their largest of the half, early in the second quarter.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III, left, dunks as Los Angeles Clippers guard Bones Hyland, center, and forward Naji Marshall watch during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. Credit: AP/Mark J. Terrill
The Clippers made pushes, including scoring 11 straight points to pull within 47-40, but the Pelicans connected from distance to break their momentum.
New Orleans ended up 14 for 22 from long distance (63.6%) in the first half.
TIP INS
Pelicans: New Orleans had a 45-31 rebounding advantage. … G Herbert Jones was elbowed in the face by Clippers G Eric Gordon in the second quarter. Jones was able to return, finishing with four points and six rebounds.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann, right, shoots as New Orleans Pelicans forward Naji Marshall defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. Credit: AP/Mark J. Terrill
Clippers: F Nicolas Batum provided some offensive pop off the bench, finishing with 13 points, including a four-point play in the third quarter. … G Russell Westbrook (14 points), Gordon (13) and Leonard (10) accounted for 66% of the Clippers’ scoring output in the first half. … Westbrook finished with 14 points and five assists.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Visit the Portland Trailblazers on Monday.
Trail Blazers: Host the Chicago Bulls on Monday.
