LA Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans trade third-quarter bursts as free throws and late defense swing the finish at Smoothie King Center

The LA Clippers left the Smoothie King Center at 34-36 after a 105-99 result put the New Orleans Pelicans at 25-46 in a game played at 8:00 PM EDT. The Clippers vs Pels night featured 14 ties and 14 lead changes, and the 105-99 margin was shaped by the Pelicans’ 82 percent free-throw shooting against the Clippers’ 59 percent.

First quarter

The LA Clippers opened with 26 points while the New Orleans Pelicans posted 28 in the first quarter. The Clippers produced 5 steals toward a 11-steal night, and the Pelicans matched that defensive pressure with 11 steals of their own.

Second quarter

The LA Clippers added another 26 points in the second quarter as the New Orleans Pelicans scored 27 to keep a 55-52 halftime edge. The Clippers created 46 paint points on 59 percent finishing in the paint, while the Pelicans answered with 44 points in the paint on 60 percent.

Third quarter

The LA Clippers’ best push came in the third quarter with 32 points, and the New Orleans Pelicans matched that same 32-point output to keep the game even heading to the fourth. The Clippers got 34 bench points compared with 21 for the Pelicans, and the Pelicans offset that gap by hitting 13 three-pointers on 38 percent to the Clippers’ 10 makes on 31 percent.

Fourth quarter

The LA Clippers were held to 15 points in the fourth quarter while the New Orleans Pelicans scored 18 to close out the 105-99 decision, and the Pelicans led for 26:09 of game time compared with 15:54 for the Clippers. The Clippers logged 20 assists on the night in this LA Clippers vs New Orleans Pelicans recap, and the Pelicans finished with 21 assists while both teams committed 16 turnovers.

Kris Dunn previously delivered 8 points with 7 rebounds and 3 steals, and that kind of backcourt activity fit a game where the Clippers scored 13 points off turnovers. John Collins previously led the Clippers with 18 points and 8 rebounds, and Derrick Jones Jr. previously posted 22 points on 64 percent shooting with 3 assists as part of a lineup snapshot worth a LA Clippers vs New Orleans Pelicans scoreline review. The stat profile also reflected game-changing plays LA Clippers vs New Orleans Pelicans around the foul line, where the Clippers went 19-for-32 and the Pelicans went 18-for-22, and the LA Clippers coach post-game reaction centered on details that decided a 6-point gap.

The LA Clippers are next scheduled to play the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center at 8:30 PM EDT on 03/21/2026, with the broadcast listed on KFAA, KTLA, and FDSSC. Keep it locked for the next game recap, and share this article with other Clippers fans.