Pelicans Rally Past Clippers for Sixth Straight Home Win

New Orleans overcomes slow start to defeat Los Angeles in rematch

Mar. 19, 2026 at 5:25pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The New Orleans Pelicans rallied from an early deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 124-109 at home, extending their winning streak at the Smoothie King Center to six games. Saddiq Bey scored 25 points and Trey Murphy III added 23 as the Pelicans came back after trailing by 18 points in the first quarter. Dejounte Murray dished out a season-high 11 assists and scored 17 points for New Orleans, which is playing out the string but looking to build momentum for next season.

Why it matters

The Pelicans are out of playoff contention, but this win shows the team is still competing hard and developing chemistry as they look to the future. The Clippers, meanwhile, have lost three straight games after a strong stretch, raising questions about their ability to maintain their position in the Western Conference playoff race.

The details

The Pelicans overcame an 18-point first-quarter deficit, tying the game at halftime before pulling away in the second half. Zion Williamson continued his efficient play, scoring 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 28 minutes. Interim head coach James Borrego praised his team's effort and refusal to give in despite being out of the playoff picture.

  • The Pelicans and Clippers faced off for the second consecutive day on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
  • New Orleans has now won six straight home games.

The players

Dejounte Murray

The Pelicans guard dished out a season-high 11 assists and scored 17 points in the win.

Saddiq Bey

The Pelicans forward scored a team-high 25 points in the comeback victory.

Zion Williamson

The Pelicans star forward continued his efficient play, scoring 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 28 minutes.

Kawhi Leonard

The Clippers forward scored 25 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, reaching 5,000 career boards.

Tyronn Lue

The Clippers head coach acknowledged his team's defensive lapses in the loss.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We are sprinting through the finish line. The goal is to build momentum. I'm really proud of the group that they've bought into that. They're not giving in to the season (or the challenges) within a game.”

— James Borrego, Pelicans Interim Head Coach

“It was Zion getting left, getting left, Saddiq Bey getting right, getting right, Dejounte getting right, so we didn't pay attention to details as far as how we needed to guard them. But they played well.”

— Tyronn Lue, Clippers Head Coach

What’s next

The Clippers will look to snap their three-game losing streak when they face the Pelicans again on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

The takeaway

Despite being out of playoff contention, the Pelicans are showing fight and development as they close out the season, providing hope for the future. The Clippers, on the other hand, are struggling to maintain their position in the Western Conference playoff race after a strong stretch earlier in the year.