Zion, McCollum lead big 4th quarter in the Pelicans' 117-106 win, slowing the Clippers' recent surge
LOS ANGELES (AP) CJ McCollum scored 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Zion Williamson added 21 points and 10 assists, and the New Orleans Pelicans slowed the Los Angeles Clippers' recent roll with a 117-106 victory Wednesday night.
Brandon Ingram had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Pelicans, who opened a four-game road trip with their fourth consecutive victory to match their longest winning streak of the season. Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III added 13 points apiece in a wire-to-wire win over a weary opponent.
“It’s exhilarating to see our team lock in like we did,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “Watching the Clippers over the last couple of months, they’ve been one of the best teams in the league, so it was great to see all of our guys lock in from the start. Just a wire-to-wire, high-discipline game.”
James Harden scored 19 points and Norman Powell had 18 for the Clippers, whose four-game winning streak ended in their first game back from an impressive 6-1 road trip during which they moved to the top of the Western Conference standings. Los Angeles was playing its eighth game in 13 days, and New Orleans capitalized.
Kawhi Leonard scored 15 points and Paul George finished with seven after missing his first nine shots as Los Angeles lost for only the sixth time in 32 games since the start of December.
“It’s always difficult coming from a long road trip, but no excuses,” Harden said. “We had plenty of opportunities to win the game. Fatigue a little bit played a part in it. Three games in four nights, coming from Miami, Atlanta, so it is what it is. Now we get some rest and can finish the next few games strong.”
Playing through a bone bruise in his left foot, Williamson scored 13 points in the fourth quarter and finished one shy of his career high in assists, taking over down the stretch with a series of unstoppable drives to the hoop. McCollum’s fifth 3-pointer with 5:15 to play stretched the Pels’ lead to 105-89.
“We had great game plan and discipline tonight,” McCollum said. “When everybody gets touches, especially when the big fella gets touches and is able to figure out when to pass and when to score, it makes the game easier for everybody else. I just did my job.”
Jonas Valanciunas scored eight points for New Orleans before leaving in the second quarter with a bruised right calf.
A brutal schedule forced the Clippers to play at home one day after they returned from the franchise's final Grammys trip. The Clippers will move out of the downtown arena that hosts the music awards next season and into their new Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
The Clippers' weariness was obvious in the first quarter while New Orleans rolled to a 17-point lead. George went 0 for 9 in the first half, but hit his first jump shot after halftime.
“Their adjustments were pretty good,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Willie did a good job putting Herb on James and putting Zion on Kawhi, and it worked tonight, and they played well, so give them credit.”
Harden passed Maurice Cheeks (7,392) for 15th place on the NBA’s career assists list during the second quarter.
Jones went to the locker room midway through the first quarter after he ran face-first into Leonard's shoulder while chasing a pass. Jones returned in the second quarter, but Valanciunas went to the locker room a few minutes later after colliding with Ingram.
Naji Marshall sat out with a back injury for New Orleans.
Clippers center Ivica Zubac returned from a one-game absence with a calf strain.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: At Lakers on Friday.
Clippers: Host Detroit on Saturday.
---
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jonas Valanciunas vs. Ivica Zubac (CJ McCollum gains possession) | |||
11:36 | +2 | Jonas Valanciunas makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (CJ McCollum assists) | 2-0 | |
11:08 | Paul George misses three point jump shot | |||
11:05 | Brandon Ingram defensive rebound | |||
10:59 | Brandon Ingram misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:59 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
10:37 | Terance Mann misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
10:36 | Terance Mann offensive rebound | |||
10:35 | Terance Mann misses two point tip layup | |||
10:34 | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | |||
10:33 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point tip layup | 2-2 | |
10:14 | +3 | CJ McCollum makes three point jump shot (Herbert Jones assists) | 5-2 | |
9:49 | Paul George misses three point jump shot | |||
9:47 | CJ McCollum defensive rebound | |||
9:43 | +2 | Herbert Jones makes two point running layup (Zion Williamson assists) | 7-2 | |
9:25 | James Harden turnover (out of bounds step) | |||
9:11 | +2 | Herbert Jones makes two point layup (Zion Williamson assists) | 9-2 | |
9:04 | James Harden turnover (lost ball) (Jonas Valanciunas steals) | |||
9:01 | +2 | Herbert Jones makes two point running dunk (Jonas Valanciunas assists) | 11-2 | |
9:01 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
8:38 | +3 | James Harden makes three point pullup jump shot | 11-5 | |
8:24 | Terance Mann personal foul (Zion Williamson draws the foul) | |||
8:15 | CJ McCollum misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:13 | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | |||
8:06 | Paul George turnover (back court violation) | |||
7:44 | CJ McCollum turnover (traveling) | |||
7:35 | Kawhi Leonard turnover (bad pass) (CJ McCollum steals) | |||
7:32 | Herbert Jones misses two point running layup | |||
7:30 | Herbert Jones offensive rebound | |||
7:29 | Herbert Jones misses two point tip layup | |||
7:28 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
7:24 | James Harden turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
7:23 | Pelicans 60 second timeout | |||
7:03 | Pelicans turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
6:50 | +3 | James Harden makes three point jump shot (Ivica Zubac assists) | 11-8 | |
6:41 | +2 | CJ McCollum makes two point driving floating jump shot (Zion Williamson assists) | 13-8 | |
6:28 | +3 | Kawhi Leonard makes three point jump shot (Paul George assists) | 13-11 | |
6:09 | Zion Williamson misses two point driving layup | |||
6:07 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
5:59 | +2 | James Harden makes two point stepback jump shot | 13-13 | |
5:45 | CJ McCollum misses three point jump shot | |||
5:44 | Clippers defensive rebound | |||
5:38 | Kawhi Leonard turnover (lost ball) (Dyson Daniels steals) | |||
5:35 | +2 | Dyson Daniels makes two point driving finger roll layup | 15-13 | |
5:16 | Paul George misses three point jump shot | |||
5:13 | Brandon Ingram defensive rebound | |||
5:01 | +2 | CJ McCollum makes two point pullup jump shot (Dyson Daniels assists) | 17-13 | |
4:43 | Paul George misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
4:40 | CJ McCollum defensive rebound | |||
4:25 | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point cutting dunk (CJ McCollum assists) | 19-13 | |
4:07 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point layup | 19-15 | |
3:46 | James Harden blocks Brandon Ingram's three point pullup jump shot | |||
3:43 | Brandon Ingram offensive rebound | |||
3:41 | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point pullup jump shot | 21-15 | |
3:35 | CJ McCollum personal foul (Kawhi Leonard draws the foul) | |||
3:20 | +2 | Mason Plumlee makes two point driving layup (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 21-17 | |
3:09 | +3 | Trey Murphy III makes three point jump shot (Brandon Ingram assists) | 24-17 | |
2:45 | Dyson Daniels blocks Norman Powell's two point pullup jump shot | |||
2:42 | Dyson Daniels defensive rebound | |||
2:26 | +2 | Jose Alvarado makes two point pullup jump shot | 26-17 | |
2:12 | Amir Coffey misses three point jump shot | |||
2:09 | Brandon Ingram defensive rebound | |||
2:05 | +2 | Trey Murphy III makes two point running jump shot (Brandon Ingram assists) | 28-17 | |
2:05 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
1:49 | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point driving floating jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 28-19 | |
1:28 | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point pullup jump shot (Larry Nance Jr. assists) | 30-19 | |
1:12 | Russell Westbrook offensive foul (Jose Alvarado draws the foul) | |||
1:12 | Russell Westbrook turnover (offensive foul) | |||
0:56 | Jose Alvarado misses three point jump shot | |||
0:54 | Larry Nance Jr. offensive rebound | |||
0:44 | +3 | Trey Murphy III makes three point jump shot (Larry Nance Jr. assists) | 33-19 | |
0:28 | Russell Westbrook misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:28 | Larry Nance Jr. defensive rebound | |||
0:06 | +3 | Trey Murphy III makes three point jump shot (Brandon Ingram assists) | 36-19 | |
0:01 | Russell Westbrook turnover (lost ball) (Dyson Daniels steals) | |||
0:00 | Trey Murphy III misses three point floating jump shot | |||
0:00 | Pelicans offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:47 | +3 | Norman Powell makes three point jump shot (Mason Plumlee assists) | 36-22 | |
11:35 | Dyson Daniels turnover (bad pass) (Norman Powell steals) | |||
11:32 | Trey Murphy III shooting foul (Amir Coffey draws the foul) | |||
11:32 | +1 | Amir Coffey makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-23 | |
11:32 | +1 | Amir Coffey makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 36-24 | |
11:18 | Zion Williamson misses two point driving layup | |||
11:18 | Pelicans offensive rebound | |||
11:18 | Russell Westbrook personal foul (Loose ball) (Larry Nance Jr. draws the foul) | |||
11:08 | Dyson Daniels misses three point jump shot | |||
11:05 | Mason Plumlee defensive rebound | |||
10:58 | Norman Powell misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
10:58 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
10:58 | Dyson Daniels personal foul (Loose ball) (Mason Plumlee draws the foul) | |||
10:48 | Mason Plumlee turnover (lost ball) (Larry Nance Jr. steals) | |||
10:35 | +2 | Dyson Daniels makes two point driving layup (Zion Williamson assists) | 38-24 | |
10:22 | Norman Powell turnover (bad pass) (Zion Williamson steals) | |||
10:15 | Trey Murphy III misses three point running jump shot | |||
10:11 | Jose Alvarado offensive rebound | |||
10:09 | Trey Murphy III misses three point jump shot | |||
10:06 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
10:02 | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Amir Coffey assists) | 38-26 | |
9:46 | Trey Murphy III misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
9:44 | Mason Plumlee defensive rebound | |||
9:41 | James Harden turnover (lost ball) (Dyson Daniels steals) | |||
9:30 | +2 | Trey Murphy III makes two point layup | 40-26 | |
9:09 | +3 | Norman Powell makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 40-29 | |
8:56 | Mason Plumlee shooting foul (Zion Williamson draws the foul) | |||
8:56 | +1 | Zion Williamson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 41-29 | |
8:56 | +1 | Zion Williamson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 42-29 | |
8:38 | +3 | James Harden makes three point pullup jump shot (Amir Coffey assists) | 42-32 | |
8:28 | +3 | Herbert Jones makes three point jump shot (Zion Williamson assists) | 45-32 | |
8:01 | Daniel Theis misses two point cutting layup | |||
7:58 | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | |||
7:48 | Daniel Theis shooting foul (Jonas Valanciunas draws the foul) | |||
7:48 | +1 | Jonas Valanciunas makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 46-32 | |
7:48 | +1 | Jonas Valanciunas makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 47-32 | |
7:25 | Zion Williamson shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul) | |||
7:25 | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 47-33 | |
7:25 | James Harden misses regular free throw 2 of 3 | |||
7:25 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
7:25 | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 47-34 | |
7:16 | Trey Murphy III misses three point jump shot | |||
7:15 | Clippers defensive rebound | |||
7:01 | Paul George misses two point jump shot | |||
6:59 | Trey Murphy III defensive rebound | |||
6:50 | +2 | Jonas Valanciunas makes two point reverse layup (Zion Williamson assists) | 49-34 | |
6:28 | Norman Powell misses three point jump shot | |||
6:25 | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | |||
6:19 | Jonas Valanciunas turnover (bad pass) (Paul George steals) | |||
6:15 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
6:08 | Paul George misses three point jump shot | |||
6:08 | James Harden offensive rebound | |||
6:07 | Brandon Ingram blocks James Harden's two point putback layup | |||
6:07 | Brandon Ingram defensive rebound | |||
5:52 | Herbert Jones misses two point driving layup | |||
5:49 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
5:32 | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point pullup jump shot (Paul George assists) | 49-36 | |
5:12 | +2 | Jonas Valanciunas makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 51-36 | |
5:02 | Paul George misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
4:59 | CJ McCollum defensive rebound | |||
4:55 | Brandon Ingram turnover (bad pass) (Kawhi Leonard steals) | |||
4:39 | Jonas Valanciunas personal foul (James Harden draws the foul) | |||
4:33 | Paul George misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:30 | CJ McCollum defensive rebound | |||
4:12 | CJ McCollum turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
4:12 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
3:57 | Kawhi Leonard misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:54 | CJ McCollum defensive rebound | |||
3:48 | Paul George personal foul (CJ McCollum draws the foul) | |||
3:37 | CJ McCollum misses three point jump shot | |||
3:33 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
3:24 | +3 | James Harden makes three point stepback jump shot | 51-39 | |
3:07 | Zion Williamson turnover (bad pass) (Paul George steals) | |||
3:01 | CJ McCollum personal foul (Kawhi Leonard draws the foul) | |||
3:01 | +1 | Kawhi Leonard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 51-40 | |
3:01 | +1 | Kawhi Leonard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 51-41 | |
2:39 | +2 | CJ McCollum makes two point driving floating jump shot | 53-41 | |
2:24 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point dunk (Paul George assists) | 53-43 | |
2:00 | Herbert Jones misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
1:59 | Pelicans offensive rebound | |||
1:59 | Pelicans turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
1:32 | Paul George misses three point jump shot | |||
1:31 | Pelicans defensive rebound | |||
1:07 | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point turnaround jump shot (Herbert Jones assists) | 55-43 | |
0:47 | Zion Williamson shooting foul (Ivica Zubac draws the foul) | |||
0:47 | +1 | Ivica Zubac makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 55-44 | |
0:47 | Ivica Zubac misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:45 | Herbert Jones defensive rebound | |||
0:31 | Brandon Ingram misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
0:29 | Terance Mann defensive rebound | |||
0:06 | +3 | Amir Coffey makes three point jump shot (Terance Mann assists) | 55-47 | |
0:00 | CJ McCollum misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
0:00 | Pelicans offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |