Two Western Conference teams with plenty of star power face off on Friday night when the Los Angeles Clippers (21-12, 17-16 ATS) travel to take on the New Orleans Pelicans (21-14, 20-14-1 ATS). While both teams have 21 wins, the Clippers are 4th in the West while the Pelicans sit in 6th. The Clippers are coming off a strong road win in Phoenix 131-122, covering as 3.5-point road favorites. The Pelicans are also fresh off a road win, defeating Minnesota 117-106 as 6.5-point road underdogs. This is the 2nd of four matchups between these teams this season, with the Pelicans winning the first meeting on the road by ten. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 EST from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
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The Los Angeles Clippers do not have any players on their injury report, a surprising feat considering how some of their stars have had a difficult history with injuries. They are currently on a four game win streak, their first three came at home with wins over Charlotte, Memphis and Miami. They then hit the road to Phoenix, and beat a Suns team that had Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but Durant sat out with an injury. The Clippers were led by Paul George with 33 points, and Kawhi Leonard added another 30 in the win.
Kawhi Leonard is leading the Clippers in scoring with 24.6 PPG and is still an elite defender, he is averaging 1.6 steals per game. The Clippers have won the last 11 games that Kawhi has played in, and he has scored 24 or more in his last nine games with a high of 41 against Utah. Paul George is the second leading scorer and top shooter on the team, he averages 23.2 PPG and knocks down 3.3 threes per game on 40.2% shooting from deep. George has scored 23 or more in his past four games. James Harden has played consistently and the team is full adjusted to his arrival, he adds 17.7 PPG and a team high 8.1 APG. Ivica Zubac has started every game inside for the Clippers with 12.0 PPG and 9.5 RPG, and Terrance Mann is role player in the starting lineup with 6.9 PPG as an athletic wing defender.
Norman Powell is their top scorer off the bench with 13.3 PPG, while Russell Westbrook continues to be a leader on the second unit with 11.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 4.6 APG. The Clippers rank 10th in the league in offensive efficiency, and 13th in defensive efficiency according to dunksandthrees.com. Los Angeles plays at a relatively slow pace, they rank 22nd in the league in pace of play.
Injury Report: None Listed