Los Angeles Clippers 139, New Orleans Pelicans 123 — The Los Angeles Clippers won a fast-paced shootout on November 9, 2026, defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 139-123 at Intuit Dome. Both teams scored freely, but the Clippers’ superior shot quality and late-half runs made the difference. Los Angeles led 70-59 at halftime and pushed the advantage to 105-89 after three quarters before closing out the win.

Game overview

The Clippers opened with a 36-28 first quarter and kept their foot on the gas. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden controlled the offensive flow, while Ivica Zubac dominated the interior. New Orleans stayed within striking distance behind Zion Williamson’s powerful drives and some hot perimeter shooting, but the Pelicans could not string together enough defensive stops.

Every time New Orleans threatened, Los Angeles answered with a momentum-swinging run. The Clippers’ bench provided energy in the second quarter, and their half-court execution in the third quarter turned a competitive game into a comfortable margin.

Key moments

The defining stretch came late in the second quarter. With the Pelicans within seven, the Clippers closed the half on an 18-4 run, capped by back-to-back three-pointers and a fast-break dunk. New Orleans never recovered fully. Early in the fourth, the Pelicans trimmed the deficit to 12, but Los Angeles responded with a 9-0 spurt to end any comeback hopes.

Tactical story

Los Angeles played with pace and precision, using Harden’s playmaking to create open looks for shooters and lob opportunities for Zubac. The Clippers also attacked New Orleans inside, drawing help defenders and generating kick-out threes. Defensively, Los Angeles conceded some points but forced enough turnovers to win the possession battle. New Orleans’ offense was effective in isolation, yet its transition defense and rebounding struggles proved costly.

Standout performers

• Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers): scored 30 points on efficient shooting and controlled key stretches.
• James Harden (LA Clippers): recorded 28 points and 12 assists, orchestrating the offense.
• Ivica Zubac (LA Clippers): added 20 points and 15 rebounds inside.
• Zion Williamson (New Orleans): led all scorers with 32 points but received limited defensive support.

What it means

The win gives the Clippers a valuable home result and reinforces their offensive upside when their stars share the ball. In the Western Conference standings, every high-scoring victory matters, especially against teams fighting for similar positioning. For New Orleans, the loss is a reminder that elite offense alone is not enough; the Pelicans must tighten their transition defense and rebounding to compete consistently.