Oct 28, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) drives to the web in opposition to Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) through the third quarter at Chase Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Pictures Whereas the Los Angeles Clippers will probably be out to rediscover their offense on Friday, the New Orleans Pelicans will seek for their first victory when the groups meet at Inglewood, Calif.
They’re going to contest the NBA Cup opener for each groups, who’re in West Group B with the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies.
The Clippers shot 36.6% from the ground and scored a mere 30 second-half factors in a 98-79 highway loss in opposition to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. It was the Clippers’ lowest-scoring sport since October 2021.
Some numbers from a subpar second half have been ugly. Los Angeles made simply 1-of-10 3-point makes an attempt, dedicated eight turnovers and noticed James Harden shoot 0-of-3 from the ground with two turnovers in 12 minutes.
The Clippers led 49-46 at halftime earlier than trailing by 24 factors with 3:44 remaining. Bradley Beal has missed the previous two video games with again soreness, leaving Los Angeles with no key scoring risk who can deal with the ball.
“We simply cannot have the offensive lulls all through the course of the sport like we have been having,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue mentioned. “It is combos. I like our second unit, staggering (the enjoying time for) James and Kawhi (Leonard). However that did not occur as soon as each these guys obtained drained on the similar time. It put us in a tricky bind.”
The upside for the Clippers is that they’re headed again dwelling the place they’re 2-0 and scoring 121.5 factors per sport. They’re 0-2 and scoring 93.5 factors on the highway.
Extra excellent news is that Beal was faraway from the damage report from Friday’s sport and is ready to return in opposition to New Orleans.
“Simply proceed to hone in on attempting to construct good habits and stack good days,” mentioned the Clippers’ John Collins, who had 5 factors and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes in opposition to the Warriors. “Eighty-two video games within the season, I do not assume anyone has ever gained all 82.”
No one has misplaced all 82 both, however the Pelicans are on tempo after a tough opening to the season. They’ve misplaced all 4 of their video games and their play solely appears to be getting worse.
New Orleans misplaced its season opener to the Grizzlies by six factors, then fell in extra time in its dwelling opener to the San Antonio Spurs. Since then, there was a 122-90 dwelling loss to the Boston Celtics and Wednesday’s 122-88 defeat at Denver.
The Pelicans shot 37.6% from the ground Wednesday and have been overwhelmed throughout an 11-point third quarter, whereas the Nuggets scored 39 factors within the interval.
Life with out Dejounte Murray (Achilles) has been as tough as anticipated. Including within the left knee sprain for Kevon Looney has made issues worse.
Rookie Jeremiah Fears, the No. 7 total choice on this yr’s NBA Draft, scored a career-best 21 factors Wednesday on 10-of-15 capturing from the ground. The 19-year-old added a career-best six assists.
“The most important factor I like about (Fears) is that he’s going to proceed to assault on each ends of the ground it doesn’t matter what’s happening,” Pelicans head coach Willie Inexperienced mentioned. “I feel that sort of spirit needs to be part of who we’re as a crew and we’re not there at this second.”
The Pelicans gained simply as soon as in three matchups between the groups final season however went 11-3 over the prior 4 seasons, together with a 5-2 document at Los Angeles in that stretch.
–Discipline Stage Media
