Clippers, Pelicans seeing completely different outcomes regardless of stars’ absence

Kawhi Leonard is near returning for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram are additional away from returning to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Each groups will proceed with out key gamers once they meet Monday evening in New Orleans.

Leonard hasn’t performed this season due to knee irritation, however he returned to follow greater than per week in the past and reportedly may play as quickly as Jan. 4, although he will not be on the Clippers’ three-game journey that begins in New Orleans.

The Clippers additionally performed with out Terance Mann (finger), Kevin Porter Jr. (sickness) and Kobe Brown (again) of their most up-to-date sport, a 102-92 house victory in opposition to Golden State on Friday.

Within the absence of the six-time All-Star, Los Angeles has compiled the fifth-best file within the Western Convention (tied with the crosstown Lakers). Head coach Tyronn Lue mentioned believing that they will win with out Leonard has been “half the battle.”

“Whenever you step on the ground, regardless of who’s on the court docket, having that mindset that we will win video games has been our mannequin for the final 5 years or so,” Lue mentioned. “We talked about simply holding it down till Kawhi was capable of get again, and our group has been doing an excellent job of that.”

The Clippers had six double-figure scorers in opposition to Golden State, led by 26 factors from Norman Powell, who has emerged because the workforce’s main scorer (24.2) in Leonard’s absence. Middle Ivica Zubac had his seventh straight double-double (17 factors, 11 rebounds).

They constructed a 21-point lead, watched the short-handed Warriors get inside three with 2:30 left, then held on. Los Angeles dedicated 12 of its 23 turnovers within the fourth quarter.

“It was a giant win for us nevertheless you take a look at it,” Lue mentioned. “In three days, although, I will not bear in mind how we gained. I am going to simply know that it was a W.”

The Pelicans could be pleased with any sort of win after shedding their final 9 video games and 18 of their final 19. And no return date has been set for both of the workforce’s prime two gamers. Williamson has missed 26 video games and Ingram has missed 14.

New Orleans has not led in both of its final two video games — house losses in opposition to Memphis (132-124) on Friday and Houston (128-111) the evening earlier than.

“(Now we have to) attempt to execute from the start, play arduous from the start so we aren’t at all times enjoying out of a gap,” mentioned ahead Trey Murphy III, who led the Pelicans with a season-high 35 factors in opposition to the Grizzlies.

Murphy is averaging a career-best 20.2 factors per sport and he has averaged 26.2 within the final 5 video games. He’s New Orleans’ most prolific 3-point shooter, however within the absence of Williamson and Ingram he has needed to develop his scoring repertoire.

“(In opposition to Memphis) he performed the suitable means the entire sport,” coach Willie Inexperienced mentioned of Murphy. “When the ball got here to him, he made good performs. He was stable, he shot the quilt off the ball. He obtained to the basket, he obtained to the free-throw line. This can be a nice alternative for Trey, and he took full benefit of it.”

–Discipline Degree Media