The New Orleans Pelicans turned an early deficit into one of their more complete wins of the season on Wednesday night, coming away with a 124-109 victory over the LA Clippers at Smoothie King Center. After giving up 40 first-quarter points and falling behind by 14, New Orleans steadily changed the game with sharper ball movement, better perimeter shooting, and a strong third quarter that put the Clippers on the back foot.
Quarter-by-quarter breakdown
First Quarter: The Clippers came out with the stronger start, putting up 40 points in the opening period and taking a 40-26 lead. LA found a rhythm early offensively, shooting well and creating enough space to put immediate pressure on New Orleans. The Pelicans were forced to play from behind after conceding their highest-scoring quarter of the night right away.
Second Quarter: New Orleans responded with a much better stretch in the second, outscoring LA 34-20 to even the game by halftime at 60-60. The Pelicans tightened up defensively, moved the ball with more purpose, and got cleaner looks from the perimeter. That 14-point swing erased the early margin and reset the game heading into the break.
Third Quarter: The decisive stretch came in the third. New Orleans outscored the Clippers 36-25 and took an 96-85 lead into the fourth. The Pelicans continued to score efficiently, and their offense flowed through quick decisions and balanced contributions across the lineup. While the Clippers still got production from their top scorers, they could not match New Orleans’ pace and shot-making during this period.
Fourth Quarter: The Pelicans stayed in control in the final 12 minutes, winning the quarter 28-24 and keeping the Clippers from making a serious late push. New Orleans executed cleanly down the stretch, added to its lead at the free throw line, and closed out the game without allowing momentum to shift back.
Key performers
Saddiq Bey led New Orleans with 25 points, providing the team’s top scoring output in a game that featured contributions throughout the rotation. Trey Murphy III added 23 points, seven rebounds, and three steals, continuing an efficient all-around night that stood out on both ends. Dejounte Murray directed the offense with 11 assists, helping the Pelicans finish with 32 total assists on 44 made field goals. Karlo Matkovic led the team with eight rebounds.
For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard finished with 25 points and eight rebounds, matching Bey for the game high in scoring. Darius Garland led LA with six assists, but the Clippers were unable to maintain the offensive level they showed in the opening quarter.
Game analysis
The difference in the game came from New Orleans’ offensive efficiency and its improvement after the first quarter. The Pelicans shot 53.0% from the field, hit 16 of 37 from three-point range, and went 20-of-21 at the free throw line. That combination gave them a steady scoring base once they settled in.
Ball movement was another major factor. New Orleans recorded 32 assists compared with 24 for LA, a sign of how well the Pelicans generated quality looks over the final three quarters. After allowing 40 points in the first, they held the Clippers to 69 total points the rest of the way.
LA still shot 51.1% from the field, but the perimeter numbers told a different story. The Clippers made just 9 of 31 from three-point range, while New Orleans connected on seven more threes despite only six additional attempts. The Pelicans also created separation at the free throw line, making 20 free throws to the Clippers’ 10.
That second-half control was especially notable given the way the game started. New Orleans did not rush the comeback. Instead, it built it through consistent execution, stronger defensive possessions, and a third quarter that shifted the balance fully in its favor.
Closing context
The win moved the Pelicans to 24-46, while the Clippers fell to 34-35. For New Orleans, this was a positive home result and another example of the offensive upside the group can show when the ball moves and the outside shots fall. For LA, the loss dropped them further into a tight Western Conference race, making the final stretch of the regular season more important as they look to improve their road form and hold their position in the standings.
