The Los Angeles Clippers will go to New Orleans on Saturday night looking to get back on track after a setback to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Clippers won their first meeting with the Grizzlies on Wednesday, but on Friday, they were defeated. Meanwhile, the Pelicans have won six of their previous seven contests.
Latest news on Brandon Ingram and Kawhi Leonard for Saturday’ game
New Orleans earned its first five-game winning run since the middle of February earlier this month.
While a 120-109 loss to the Warriors on Tuesday broke the Pelicans’ winning streak, a 107-88 victory in Denver on Thursday capped up a successful four-game road trip.
Brandon Ingram recorded his third triple-double of the year with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Ingram’s triple-double on Thursday was his second in the NBA; his first came a week earlier.
The veteran forward has been instrumental in the Pelicans’ recent success, averaging 29.6 points, 8.3 assists, and 6.3 rebounds during his team’s previous eight games while Zion Williamson (hamstring) nears a return.
Los Angeles dropped below.500 on the season after losing seven of nine games between the middle of February and the beginning of March.
The Clippers have been on a roll since since, winning eight of their last 12 games to put themselves in a good position to escape the Western Conference’s play-in round.
They had a one-game lead over Golden State for the No. 5 seed and a two-game lead over New Orleans going into the late games on Friday.
After losing starting shooting guard Paul George to a knee injury, the Clippers remain fighting.
Kawhi Leonard returned to action on Friday after missing only one game due to personal reasons.
After scoring 12 points and grabbing three rebounds in 18 minutes of action, he took a pause from the game.
Leonard has been cleared to play against the Pelicans on Saturday, as reported by Ian Murray of The Athletic.
In order to rest him for Saturday’s second game of the back-to-back, the Clippers benched Leonard at halftime on Friday. Against the Pelicans, Leonard should see a similar workload to his previous games.
The Clippers were able to get Leonard back into the game’s flow while still allowing him to get some late slumber.
Clippers injuries:
- Eric Gordon (Hip) – Questionable
- Brandon Boston Jr. (Lower Body) – Questionable
- Marcus Morris (Covid-19) – Questionable
- Paul George (Knee) – Out
Pelicans injuries:
- Jose Alvarado (Leg) – Out
- Zion Williamson (Hamstring) – Out
- E.J. Liddell (Knee) – Out
