Pelicans Squeeze By Clippers 121-116
- Updated: March 6, 2018
The playoff race in the Western Conference is as tight as ever and the Los Angeles Clippers came into Tuesday night needing to notch a win against the New Orleans Pelicans to climb the ladder.
One thing stood between them and making that move up the standings and that was MVP candidate Anthony Davis. Davis has been absolutely on fire as of late and this one was no different. Davis had shots falling from everywhere. The only break the Clippers got from his scoring was when he picked up a rib injury late in the second quarter after colliding with DeAndre Jordan. But when Davis was on the floor, he was tormenting the Clippers.
.@AntDavis23 is making it look easy! pic.twitter.com/Vb0wFbQBuv
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 7, 2018
He would finish the night with a double-double, notching 41 points and 13 rebounds while also helping out on the defensive end with 3 blocks.
This was a game filled with momentum plays, most of which were made by Davis and the Pelicans. However the Clippers managed to hang around throughout and that’s mostly because they had some guys step up when they needed it most. Forward Tobias Harris heeded the call to action. Harris tied for the lead in scoring for the team with 27 points while managing 11 rebounds giving him a double-double.
Harris couldn’t hold off the Pelicans himself however, he received some massive help from the bench. Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell continued to be instant energy coming off the pine. Williams had a monster fourth quarter with 14 in the final quarter alone. He closed this one out with 27 and 11 assists while also managing an otherworldly plus minus rating of +27.
Lou Williams and Montrezl make the two-man game look easy!#ItTakesEverything
📺: @NBAonTNTpic.twitter.com/Ais5RYn1pm
— NBA (@NBA) March 7, 2018
Harrell might have been the only Clippers player to dominate from start to finish when he was on the floor. Harrell had 10 points in the first quarter and continued to be dominant in the post throughout with 26 points and 8 rebounds by the time this one was over.
Despite the Pelicans leading by as many as 20 at one point this game came down to the final seconds with the lead changing hands multiple times in the last couple of minutes. A late run for the Pelicans saw them come out on top 121-116.
This is a tough loss for Los Angeles in a game that has big playoff implications however you have to be encouraged by their fight after trailing by so many.
The road isn’t going to get any easier for the Clippers as they take on Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday.
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