Zion Williamson scores 34, Pelicans high Clippers 112-104 to tighten race for No. 4 seed

Zion Williamson scored 34 factors and the New Orleans Pelicans beat Los Angeles 112-104 on Friday night time, pulling inside two video games of the Clippers for the No. 4 seed within the Western Convention.

New Orleans additionally gained the season sequence, 3-1. The fourth and fifth seeds meet within the first spherical of the NBA playoffs, and the Pelicans would personal the regular-season, head-to-head tiebreaker over the Clippers, if it got here to that in mid-April.

Spending many of the sport as New Orleans’ main ball-handler, Williamson initiated the Pelicans’ offense and in the end took over the sport, scoring time after time on explosive strikes to the ring that had been each highly effective and shifty.

Trey Murphy III scored 14 factors and Brandon Ingram 13 for New Orleans, which made 5 3-pointers within the fourth quarter to maintain the Clippers at bay.

Paul George scored 26 factors and Kawhi Leonard had 23 for Los Angeles, which performed with out James Harden (left shoulder pressure) for a second straight sport. Harden has averaged 17.4 factors this season.

Norman Powell scored 15 for the Clippers, the 51st time in his 65 video games performed this season that he’s had at the least 10 factors coming off the bench.

The Clippers had been as shut as 100-96 after Ivica Zubac’s inside basket with 6:21 left. However the Pelicans didn’t permit the sport to get any tighter. Williamson responded with a brief hook shot, Ingram hit a 3 and Larry Nance Jr., who had 12 factors, scored two clutch baskets inside earlier than Williamson completed it off with a driving layup.

UP NEXT

Clippers: Host Atlanta on Sunday night time.

Pelicans: Host the Portland Path Blazers on Saturday night time.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA