- 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
Pelicans Overcome Early Deficit to Defeat Clippers
Saddiq Bey and Trey Murphy lead New Orleans to comeback victory at home
Mar. 19, 2026 at 2:48am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The New Orleans Pelicans overcame an early 18-point deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 124-109 on Wednesday night. Saddiq Bey scored 25 points and Trey Murphy added 23 for the Pelicans, who received a standing ovation from the home crowd as they secured their sixth straight victory at the Smoothie King Center. Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points for the Clippers, who dropped below .500 on the season but maintained their hold on the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
Why it matters
The Pelicans' comeback victory showcases their resilience and ability to overcome early deficits, a trait that could serve them well as they push for a playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference. For the Clippers, the loss is a setback in their quest to solidify their position in the postseason picture.
The details
The Clippers raced out to an 18-point lead in the first quarter, but the Pelicans chipped away at the deficit and eventually tied the game at 58 late in the second quarter. New Orleans took control in the second half, with Trey Murphy hitting a key three-pointer to give the Pelicans an 89-81 lead in the third quarter. The Pelicans pulled away in the fourth quarter, with Bey and Murphy leading the way.
- The Clippers built an 18-point lead in the first quarter.
- The Pelicans tied the game at 58 late in the second quarter.
- Trey Murphy hit a three-pointer to give the Pelicans an 89-81 lead in the third quarter.
- The Pelicans pulled away in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
The players
Saddiq Bey
A forward for the New Orleans Pelicans who scored a team-high 25 points in the victory.
Trey Murphy
A guard for the New Orleans Pelicans who scored 23 points, including a key three-pointer in the third quarter that helped the Pelicans take control of the game.
Kawhi Leonard
A forward for the Los Angeles Clippers who scored a game-high 25 points in the losing effort.
What they’re saying
“We must have showed a lot of heart and determination to come back from that early deficit. The crowd was amazing and really lifted us up in the second half.”
— Saddiq Bey, Pelicans Forward
“We had our chances, but just couldn't sustain the momentum in the second half. Credit to the Pelicans for battling back and making the plays when it mattered most.”
— Kawhi Leonard
What’s next
The Pelicans will look to extend their winning streak to seven games when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night. The Clippers will try to bounce back on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
The takeaway
The Pelicans' comeback victory showcases their resilience and ability to overcome early deficits, a trait that could serve them well as they push for a playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference. For the Clippers, the loss is a setback in their quest to solidify their position in the postseason picture, but they remain in the eighth seed with a half-game lead over Portland.
