The Los Angeles Clippers are red-hot at a time when gaining a top-six playoff berth is the big priority.
The Clippers take aim at their 12th win in 15 games when they host the lowly New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
Los Angeles (43-32) was tied for the seventh-best record in the Western Conference entering Tuesday’s play. The Clippers were a half-game behind the No. 6 Golden State Warriors and one game behind the No. 5 Memphis Grizzlies — two teams that faced each other Tuesday night.
The Clippers share the same record with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who visit the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.
In other words, there is a lot of shuffling that can occur in the final two weeks of the season. Realistically, the Clippers can finish anywhere from fifth to eighth — but they desperately want to finish at least sixth.
“I’m following (the standings) all the time, especially with this play-in stuff when you are trying to stay out of that,” Clippers standout Norman Powell said.
The schedule is breaking in a good way as Los Angeles opens a five-game homestand. In addition to the Pelicans, the Clippers play the Dallas Mavericks twice before games against the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets.
The Clippers are coming off a 3-1 road trip during which the lone setback was to the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers.
Los Angeles completed the excursion Monday with a 96-87 win against the Orlando Magic. Powell and Kawhi Leonard led the way with 21 points apiece.
Leonard’s knee was feeling good throughout March and it showed with his performances.
Leonard, 33, scored at least 20 points in 12 of his 13 appearances in the month, including the last nine. He averaged 25.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 52.1 percent from the field and 39.7 percent on 3-point attempts in March.
Powell, 31, has 55 points over the past two games, scoring a game-high 34 in the loss to Cleveland.
New Orleans and Los Angeles split two previous meetings this season, with the Pelicans with the most recent matchup, 127-120 at home on March 11.
New Orleans (21-54) is playing out the string after shutting down forward Zion Williamson (back) and guard CJ McCollum (right foot) for the season on Monday.
Injuries are a recurring theme for Williamson, who played in just 30 games this season. That marks the fourth time in six seasons that he has played in 30 or fewer games (including missing all of the 2021-22 season).
The No. 1 overall pick in 2019 has stepped on the court just 214 times during his NBA career.
The Pelicans didn’t have head coach Willie Green (personal reasons), either, when they notched a 98-94 home win over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.
Assistant coach James Borrego slid one seat over to run the team and he could only shake his head about Sunday marking the team’s 42nd starting lineup due to this injury-riddled season.
“I’m not sure I’ve been a part of a season like this before,” Borrego said. “In totality, I have not seen this. You go through stretches in a season where you’re injured. Every team does. But to see it start to finish, I’ve never seen anything like this before. It’s a great opportunity for our young guys.”
Keion Brooks Jr. led the Pelicans with 17 points and Antonio Reeves had 16. Jose Alvarado (12 points) produced a go-ahead three-point play late.
New Orleans must sweep its final seven games to avoid its worst record since going 27-55 during the 2012-13 season — their final season being called the Hornets.
–Field Level Media
