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

“That win was big-time,” Pelicans coach Willie Green mentioned.

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.

(*8*) Green mentioned. “But for us, our mentality is we’re going to continue to fight. We’re not going to fade out.”

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

“Starting off 1-12 and 3-16, you’re thinking when is it going to pick up?” rookie Trey Murphy mentioned. “Being my first year, I don’t know what winning is like. Look at us now.”

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

“This team is resilient,” mentioned Nance, who was traded, together with McCollum, from Portland in February and not too long ago returned from knee surgical procedure. “They started 1-12. That’s so hard to pick yourself up from. I’ve been in seasons like that, it’s hard to keep going and keep striving for it.”

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 recreation.

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

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

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 minimize 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 group on its ft. Jackson scored 10 factors and Morris added six within the spurt.

Robert Covington began the third instead of 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.

“Just having faith in each other and staying connected,” Green mentioned of the Pelicans’ mindset. “Knowing we took their best shot and we’re only down 10 going into the fourth.”

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

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 one more 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 in every of three rookies who contributed.

“Murphy had huge stones to come in and make those big shots they needed when they were struggling to score the basketball,” Lue mentioned.

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

“I thought our guys got a little tired,” Lue mentioned. “We didn’t continue to keep attacking.”

The Clippers, who made the Western Conference 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 recreation.

Pelicans: They had received the season collection, 3-1.

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

The Pelicans have been 1-3 towards the Suns this season.