The Los Angeles Clippers bring their three-game winning streak to New Orleans, where Kawhi Leonard and James Harden's recent offensive surge has sparked hopes of avoiding the play-in tournament.
The Pelicans, reeling from four straight losses and missing key players like Dejounte Murray and Bruce Brown, face an uphill battle despite their historical success against the Clippers at home.
The matchup at Smoothie King Center pits a Clippers team shooting 47.1% from the field against a Pelicans squad that's struggled defensively, ranking 29th in opponent field goal percentage.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Clippers prediction: who will win?
For tonight's New Orleans Pelicans vs Los Angeles Clippers matchup, our predictive model gives the Clips a 57.5% chance of defeating the Pels.
Pre-game probabilities
Los Angeles Clippers
Moneyline
Win %
57.5%
42.5%
New Orleans Pelicans
Los Angeles Clippers: 57.5% win probability
- Better defensive efficiency (6,954 goals against vs Pelicans' 7,739)
- Higher win percentage (35 wins vs 17 wins in similar games played)
- Stronger recent form (WWWLL vs Pelicans' LLLLW)
New Orleans Pelicans: 42.5% win probability
- Poor defensive record (2nd worst in Western Conference with 7,739 goals against)
- Struggling offense (7,201 goals scored, bottom third in conference)
- Worst recent form in division (Lost 4 of last 5 games, 17-48 overall record)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model brings together insights from top NBA experts. Instead of searching through countless expert analyses online, you can rely on our predictions to capture the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing expert picks, data, and trends, while our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. These confidence levels are then averaged to generate an 'expert opinion' win probability—providing a data-driven reflection of the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NBA analysts..
| New Orleans Pelicans | Los Angeles Clippers | |
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New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Clippers preview
The Clippers roll into the Smoothie King Center riding a three-game win streak, looking sharper than they have in months with Kawhi Leonard finding his rhythm at just the right time.
While LA's offense has been clicking lately behind James Harden's impressive 29-point performance against the Kings, it's their defensive prowess - ranking 5th in points allowed - that's been their real secret weapon.
The struggling Pelicans, now 31 games below .500, desperately need Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum to recapture their early-season form if they want to snap their current four-game skid.
New Orleans' home court hasn't been much of an advantage lately, but they've historically given the Clippers fits here - winning five of their last six as home underdogs against LA following a loss.
The injury bug continues to plague both squads, with the Pelicans missing several key pieces including Dejounte Murray and Herbert Jones, while the Clippers won't have Norman Powell or Ben Simmons available.
Keep an eye on Trey Murphy III, who's coming off a 27-point outburst against Memphis and could be the x-factor the Pelicans need to stay competitive.
The contrast in defensive efficiency between these teams is stark - LA's holding opponents to just 108.7 points per game while New Orleans ranks dead last in opponent field goal percentage.
With the Clippers fighting to avoid the play-in tournament and the Pelicans seemingly headed toward lottery territory, this matchup feels like a pivotal moment for both teams' trajectories.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Clippers form
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Clippers head to head
New Orleans Pelicans
83%
Los Angeles Clippers
17%
Dec 31, 2024
New Orleans Pelicans
113 : 116
Los Angeles Clippers
Mar 16, 2024
New Orleans Pelicans
112 : 104
Los Angeles Clippers
Feb 8, 2024
Los Angeles Clippers
106 : 117
New Orleans Pelicans
Jan 6, 2024
New Orleans Pelicans
95 : 111
Los Angeles Clippers
Nov 25, 2023
Los Angeles Clippers
106 : 116
New Orleans Pelicans
Apr 2, 2023
New Orleans Pelicans
122 : 114
Los Angeles Clippers
