- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Clippers Blow 18-Point Lead, Fall to Pelicans 124-109
Los Angeles squanders early advantage in loss to struggling New Orleans squad
Mar. 19, 2026 at 4:27am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Los Angeles Clippers built an 18-point lead in the first quarter on Wednesday night but were unable to hold on, falling 124-109 to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Clippers, who are fighting for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, allowed the Pelicans to slowly work their way back into the game and take control in the second half.
Why it matters
This collapse is a concerning development for the Clippers, who are in a tight race to secure a spot in the NBA's play-in tournament. Losing to one of the league's worst teams, despite holding a large early lead, raises questions about the team's ability to maintain focus and close out games.
The details
Kawhi Leonard returned to the starting lineup and scored 25 points, but the Clippers' new-look starting five could not hold onto their early advantage. The Pelicans, led by strong performances from Saddiq Bey (25 points) and Trey Murphy III (23 points), outscored the Clippers 36-25 in the third quarter to take control of the game. A 16-4 run in the fourth quarter sealed the win for New Orleans.
- The Clippers built an 18-point lead in the first quarter.
- The Pelicans tied the game at 58 before halftime.
- The Pelicans outscored the Clippers 36-25 in the third quarter.
- The Pelicans went on a 16-4 run in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
The players
Kawhi Leonard
A star player for the Los Angeles Clippers who scored 25 points in the loss.
Saddiq Bey
A player for the New Orleans Pelicans who scored 25 points and hit 5 three-pointers.
Trey Murphy III
A player for the New Orleans Pelicans who scored 23 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
Dejounte Murray
A player for the New Orleans Pelicans who had 10 assists.
Herbert Jones
A player for the New Orleans Pelicans who had 5 steals.
What’s next
The Clippers play the Pelicans again on Thursday night before heading to Dallas. They need to turn things around quickly as the margin for error is slim with the playoffs approaching.
The takeaway
This loss highlights the Clippers' struggles to maintain leads and close out games, which could prove costly in their pursuit of a playoff spot. The team's inability to hold on to large early advantages raises questions about their focus and composure, especially against lesser opponents.
