New Orleans Pelicans turn 32 assists into a surge past the LA Clippers at Smoothie King Center

The New Orleans Pelicans moved to 24-46 after a 124-109 result over the LA Clippers, who went to 34-35 at Smoothie King Center. The New Orleans Pelicans vs LA Clippers final score was 124-109 after the Pelicans led for 23:45 with 3 lead changes.

First quarter

The Clippers opened with 40 in the first quarter while the Pelicans scored 26 as the early pace tilted to Lob City. The Pels forced 16 Clippers turnovers in the game and turned them into 23 points off turnovers to keep contact after the opening run. The Clippers scored 66 points in the paint on 64 percent finishing on paint attempts, and the Pelicans answered with 6 blocks to disrupt looks at the rim.

Second quarter

The Pelicans flipped the middle of the half with 34 in the second quarter while holding the Clippers to 20 in the frame. The Pels hit 16 three-pointers on 43 percent from deep, and the team effective field goal rate finished at 63 percent. The Pelicans added 22 fast-break points, and the Clippers finished with 9 fast-break points on 44 percent in transition.

Third quarter

The Pelicans posted 36 in the third quarter while the Clippers scored 25, and the home side stretched the margin toward a 20-point biggest lead. The Pels assisted on 32 baskets while the Clippers totaled 24 assists, and the ball movement supported 53 percent shooting on 83 attempts. Trey Murphy III supplied 23 points with 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, a stat line that fit the New Orleans Pelicans vs LA Clippers key moments in the swing stretch.

Fourth quarter

The Pelicans closed with 28 in the fourth quarter while the Clippers scored 24, and the Pels finished with 48 rebounds to the Clippers’ 39. New Orleans got 25 points from Saddiq Bey and 17 assists from the duo of Bey and Zion Williamson, with Williamson adding 14 points on 75 percent shooting. The Clippers went 29 percent from three-point range and still got 38 bench points, matching the Pelicans’ 38 bench points noted in the New Orleans Pelicans vs LA Clippers full match report.

The New Orleans Pelicans full-time result sets up another meeting with the LA Clippers at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana on 03/19/2026 at 8:00 PM EDT. The broadcast will be available on Gulf Coast Sports, Pelicans+, and FDSSC, and fans can lock in for the next recap and share this article with other Pels followers.