Pelicans overtake Clippers to continue late-season surge

Saddiq Bey scored 25 points and Trey Murphy III added 23 as the New Orleans Pelicans finished off a 124-109 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday in the opener of a back-to-back set between the teams.

Dejounte Murray scored 17 points and dished a season-high 11 assists as the Pelicans (24-46) continued their recent surge with their sixth consecutive home victory and their fourth victory in five games overall. Zion Williamson and Derik Queen each put up 14 points.

The Pelicans, who trailed 36-18 in the first quarter, hit 53% from the floor and went 16 of 37 (43.2%) from 3-point range. The Clippers shot 51.7% and went 9 of 31 (29%) from long distance.

Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds while John Collins logged 18 points as the Clippers (34-35) lost their third consecutive game. Darius Garland and Jordan Miller each scored 13 points for Los Angeles, which remained in eighth place in the Western Conference standings.

Leonard, who returned from a one-game absence caused by a left ankle sprain, reached 5,000 rebounds for his career. Kris Dunn scored six points off the bench for the Clippers after starting the previous 62 games. Dunn hadn't appeared as a reserve since Nov. 3.

The Clippers were in control early, scoring 40 points in the first quarter, when they led by as many as 18. The Pelicans stormed back in the second period, when they had a 34-20 scoring advantage to create a 60-60 tie at halftime.

New Orleans also owned the third quarter, scoring 10 points on five Los Angeles turnovers in the period to take a 96-85 lead. A layup from Jeremiah Fears gave the Pelicans a 103-87 lead with 10:17 remaining.

The Clippers pulled within 109-101 with seven minutes left. The Pelicans then took charge with a 12-0 run to take a 121-101 lead with 3:53 remaining after a pull-up jumper from Murray, who returned after missing a victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday with an illness.

Murray was playing his ninth game of the season after returning from a torn Achilles that kept him out for more than a year. He scored a season-best 35 points in his previous game, Friday against the Houston Rockets.

--Field Level Media