Williamson scores season-high 32, Pelicans defeat Clippers 116-106 in the In-Season Tournament
LOS ANGELES (AP) Zion Williamson scored a season-high 32 points, Brandon Ingram added 30 and the New Orleans Pelicans finished group play in the NBA In-Season Tournament on a winning note, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 116-106 on Friday night.
Williamson scored nine points in the final 12 minutes as the Pelicans improved to 3-1 in West Group B play. Houston is 2-1 in the group but would take the top spot in the group with a win over Dallas on Tuesday by virtue of its win over New Orleans earlier in the tournament.
New Orleans also extended its winning streak to three and has won five of its last six.
“The In-Season Tournament is a great stepping stone for us,” said Williamson, who also had six rebounds and five assists. “We haven’t won anything, so this is good to see where we stand with something on the line.”
Paul George scored 34 points while Norman Powell and Kawhi Leonard had 20 apiece for the Clippers, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Los Angeles was 1-3 in group play.
A free throw by Russell Westbrook got the Clippers within 87-86 before the Pelicans took control with a 20-8 run over a five-minute span. Herb Jones scored nine of his 14 points during the spurt and Ingram added six.
The Clippers made a final surge and cut the deficit to 114-110, but Williamson provided the clinching points with his putback layup with 34.1 seconds remaining.
“Those two guys are extremely important to our entire group. And when they’re healthy playing at a high level, we have a chance to compete with any team,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “They’re doing a good job of playing off each other.”
Los Angeles trailed 56-55 at halftime but scored the first seven points of the third quarter to take its first lead of the game. The Pelicans trailed 79-77 with three minutes remaining, but went on a 8-4 run at the end of the quarter to take an 85-83 lead going into the fourth.
Ingram had 16 points in the first 10 minutes, including 10 straight points during a 14-0 run, as the Pelicans raced out to a 33-12 lead. The Clippers closed out the quarter on an 11-3 run to trail 36-23 after 12 minutes.
“Usually it is a different air when I am back in LA,” said Ingram, who is used to the confines of Crypto.Com Arena after being drafted and playing his first three seasons with the Lakers before being traded to New Orleans as part of the Anthony Davis trade in 2019. “There are some familiar rims. It feels like a shooter's gym and it feels good.”
New Orleans pushed its advantage to 47-30 on back-to-back 3-pointers by Jordan Hawkins, but the Clippers outscored the Pelicans 25-9 over the final eight minutes to get within one at halftime. George scored eight during the run and Leonard added seven.
“Brandon always gets off to a fast start and gets us behind the eight ball every game. I just thought offensively we didn’t get into a good rhythm. I thought we had a nasty flow all night,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Head to Utah for two straight games starting Saturday.
Clippers: Host the Dallas Mavericks Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jonas Valanciunas vs. Ivica Zubac (Terance Mann gains possession) | |||
11:42 | Terance Mann misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:39 | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | |||
11:29 | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point pullup jump shot (Jonas Valanciunas assists) | 2-0 | |
11:16 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point cutting dunk (James Harden assists) | 2-2 | |
11:02 | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point cutting layup (Zion Williamson assists) | 4-2 | |
10:42 | +2 | Paul George makes two point pullup jump shot (Terance Mann assists) | 4-4 | |
10:26 | Terance Mann blocks Zion Williamson's two point driving layup | |||
10:22 | Herbert Jones offensive rebound | |||
10:22 | +2 | Herbert Jones makes two point driving hook shot | 6-4 | |
10:06 | Kawhi Leonard misses three point jump shot | |||
10:02 | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | |||
9:50 | +3 | Dyson Daniels makes three point jump shot (Jonas Valanciunas assists) | 9-4 | |
9:28 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point pullup jump shot | 9-6 | |
9:14 | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point stepback jump shot (Jonas Valanciunas assists) | 11-6 | |
8:54 | +2 | Paul George makes two point stepback jump shot | 11-8 | |
8:42 | Ivica Zubac shooting foul (Jonas Valanciunas draws the foul) | |||
8:42 | +1 | Jonas Valanciunas makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-8 | |
8:42 | +1 | Jonas Valanciunas makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-8 | |
8:23 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point jump shot (Paul George assists) | 13-10 | |
8:10 | +3 | Jonas Valanciunas makes three point jump shot (Zion Williamson assists) | 16-10 | |
7:49 | James Harden misses three point jump shot | |||
7:47 | Dyson Daniels defensive rebound | |||
7:41 | Zion Williamson misses two point driving layup | |||
7:38 | Paul George defensive rebound | |||
7:32 | Paul George misses two point running jump shot | |||
7:32 | Dyson Daniels defensive rebound | |||
7:25 | +2 | Zion Williamson makes two point layup (Herbert Jones assists) | 18-10 | |
7:25 | Terance Mann shooting foul (Zion Williamson draws the foul) | |||
7:25 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
7:25 | +1 | Zion Williamson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 19-10 | |
7:03 | Kawhi Leonard misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
6:58 | Paul George offensive rebound | |||
6:47 | +2 | Terance Mann makes two point stepback jump shot (James Harden assists) | 19-12 | |
6:31 | +2 | Jonas Valanciunas makes two point jump shot (Zion Williamson assists) | 21-12 | |
6:13 | Paul George turnover (bad pass) (Jonas Valanciunas steals) | |||
6:07 | +2 | Zion Williamson makes two point running layup (Dyson Daniels assists) | 23-12 | |
5:49 | James Harden misses three point jump shot | |||
5:49 | Herbert Jones defensive rebound | |||
5:35 | Dyson Daniels misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
5:32 | Jonas Valanciunas offensive rebound | |||
5:30 | Brandon Ingram misses three point jump shot | |||
5:30 | Terance Mann defensive rebound | |||
5:23 | Paul George misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
5:21 | Brandon Ingram defensive rebound | |||
5:08 | +3 | Brandon Ingram makes three point jump shot (Dyson Daniels assists) | 26-12 | |
4:51 | Jonas Valanciunas shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul) | |||
4:51 | James Harden misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
4:51 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
4:51 | James Harden misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
4:48 | Herbert Jones defensive rebound | |||
4:36 | Naji Marshall misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
4:33 | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | |||
4:22 | Daniel Theis misses three point jump shot | |||
4:17 | Naji Marshall defensive rebound | |||
4:02 | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point driving layup | 28-12 | |
3:43 | Norman Powell misses three point jump shot | |||
3:40 | Naji Marshall defensive rebound | |||
3:25 | Brandon Ingram misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
3:24 | Clippers defensive rebound | |||
3:24 | Jonas Valanciunas personal foul (Loose ball) (Daniel Theis draws the foul) | |||
3:02 | Russell Westbrook misses two point fadeaway bank jump shot | |||
2:59 | Jordan Hawkins defensive rebound | |||
2:48 | +3 | Brandon Ingram makes three point jump shot (Jordan Hawkins assists) | 31-12 | |
2:24 | Russell Westbrook misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
2:22 | Jordan Hawkins defensive rebound | |||
2:14 | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Jose Alvarado assists) | 33-12 | |
2:14 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
1:56 | Russell Westbrook misses three point jump shot | |||
1:54 | Jose Alvarado defensive rebound | |||
1:48 | Daniel Theis blocks Brandon Ingram's two point driving layup | |||
1:45 | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | |||
1:43 | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point running jump shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 33-14 | |
1:43 | Jordan Hawkins shooting foul (Norman Powell draws the foul) | |||
1:43 | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 33-15 | |
1:33 | Paul George personal foul (Brandon Ingram draws the foul) | |||
1:27 | Paul George shooting foul (Naji Marshall draws the foul) | |||
1:27 | Naji Marshall misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
1:27 | Pelicans offensive rebound | |||
1:27 | +1 | Naji Marshall makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-15 | |
1:13 | +3 | Paul George makes three point pullup jump shot | 34-18 | |
0:59 | Russell Westbrook blocks Jose Alvarado's two point driving finger roll layup | |||
0:58 | Jose Alvarado offensive rebound | |||
0:58 | +2 | Jose Alvarado makes two point putback layup | 36-18 | |
0:45 | P.J. Tucker misses three point jump shot | |||
0:45 | Russell Westbrook offensive rebound | |||
0:44 | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point putback layup | 36-20 | |
0:31 | Jose Alvarado misses three point jump shot | |||
0:29 | Daniel Theis defensive rebound | |||
0:16 | +3 | Norman Powell makes three point jump shot (Daniel Theis assists) | 36-23 | |
0:00 | Naji Marshall misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:49 | Jordan Hawkins misses three point jump shot | |||
11:49 | Pelicans offensive rebound | |||
11:45 | +2 | Jordan Hawkins makes two point jump shot (Herbert Jones assists) | 38-23 | |
11:29 | Herbert Jones personal foul (Daniel Theis draws the foul) | |||
11:19 | +3 | Norman Powell makes three point jump shot (Paul George assists) | 38-26 | |
11:02 | Zion Williamson turnover (bad pass) (Norman Powell steals) | |||
10:59 | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point running layup | 38-28 | |
10:48 | Zion Williamson turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
10:36 | +2 | Paul George makes two point driving layup (Russell Westbrook assists) | 38-30 | |
10:23 | +3 | Herbert Jones makes three point jump shot (Zion Williamson assists) | 41-30 | |
10:09 | Paul George misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
10:06 | Dyson Daniels defensive rebound | |||
10:00 | +3 | Jordan Hawkins makes three point running pullup jump shot (Herbert Jones assists) | 44-30 | |
9:37 | Russell Westbrook misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:35 | Larry Nance Jr. defensive rebound | |||
9:30 | +3 | Jordan Hawkins makes three point running jump shot (Zion Williamson assists) | 47-30 | |
9:30 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
9:15 | Norman Powell misses two point jump shot | |||
9:13 | Dyson Daniels defensive rebound | |||
9:01 | Dyson Daniels turnover (lost ball) (Norman Powell steals) | |||
8:59 | Norman Powell misses two point running layup | |||
8:58 | Jordan Hawkins defensive rebound | |||
8:45 | Herbert Jones turnover (bad pass) (James Harden steals) | |||
8:34 | Paul George misses three point jump shot | |||
8:34 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
8:34 | Herbert Jones personal foul (Loose ball) (Daniel Theis draws the foul) | |||
8:23 | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point driving finger roll layup (P.J. Tucker assists) | 47-32 | |
8:05 | Zion Williamson misses two point driving layup | |||
8:03 | Daniel Theis defensive rebound | |||
7:54 | Zion Williamson shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul) | |||
7:54 | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 47-33 | |
7:54 | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 47-34 | |
7:37 | James Harden personal foul (Naji Marshall draws the foul) | |||
7:29 | +2 | Zion Williamson makes two point driving layup | 49-34 | |
7:12 | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point pullup jump shot (Daniel Theis assists) | 49-36 | |
6:49 | Larry Nance Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
6:46 | Daniel Theis defensive rebound | |||
6:41 | James Harden misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
6:38 | P.J. Tucker offensive rebound | |||
6:38 | +3 | Paul George makes three point jump shot (P.J. Tucker assists) | 49-39 | |
6:38 | Pelicans 60 second timeout | |||
6:24 | +2 | Zion Williamson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 51-39 | |
6:06 | Norman Powell misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
6:03 | Zion Williamson defensive rebound | |||
5:59 | Zion Williamson turnover (bad pass) (James Harden steals) | |||
5:54 | +3 | Paul George makes three point running jump shot (James Harden assists) | 51-42 | |
5:34 | Zion Williamson offensive foul (Charge) (P.J. Tucker draws the foul) | |||
5:34 | Zion Williamson turnover (offensive foul) | |||
5:21 | James Harden turnover (bad pass) (Herbert Jones steals) | |||
5:19 | Herbert Jones turnover (lost ball) (P.J. Tucker steals) | |||
5:13 | Kawhi Leonard misses three point jump shot | |||
5:13 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
5:13 | Herbert Jones personal foul (Loose ball) (P.J. Tucker draws the foul) | |||
5:07 | Paul George misses three point jump shot | |||
5:05 | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | |||
4:59 | Naji Marshall misses two point running layup | |||
4:56 | Paul George defensive rebound | |||
4:37 | +2 | Paul George makes two point driving floating jump shot | 51-44 | |
4:25 | Ivica Zubac shooting foul (Brandon Ingram draws the foul) | |||
4:25 | Brandon Ingram misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
4:25 | Pelicans offensive rebound | |||
4:25 | +1 | Brandon Ingram makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 52-44 | |
4:06 | Naji Marshall shooting foul (Kawhi Leonard draws the foul) | |||
4:06 | Kawhi Leonard misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
4:06 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
4:06 | +1 | Kawhi Leonard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 52-45 | |
3:53 | Naji Marshall misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:50 | Naji Marshall offensive rebound | |||
3:50 | James Harden blocks Naji Marshall's two point putback layup | |||
3:50 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
3:44 | Ivica Zubac offensive foul (Naji Marshall draws the foul) | |||
3:44 | Ivica Zubac turnover (offensive foul) | |||
3:22 |