Clippers, Pelicans seeing totally 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 after they meet Monday night time 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 might 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 recreation, 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 document within the Western Convention (tied with the crosstown Lakers). Head coach Tyronn Lue stated believing that they’ll win with out Leonard has been “half the battle.”

“While you step on the ground, irrespective of who’s on the court docket, having that mindset that we are able to win video games has been our mannequin for the final 5 years or so,” Lue stated. “We talked about simply holding it down till Kawhi was in a position to get again, and our group has been doing 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 staff’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 have a look at it,” Lue stated. “In three days, although, I will not keep in mind how we received. I am going to simply know that it was a W.”

The Pelicans could be proud of 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 staff’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 night time earlier than.

“(We’ve to) attempt to execute from the start, play arduous from the start so we aren’t at all times taking part in out of a gap,” stated 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 recreation 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 increase his scoring repertoire.

“(Towards Memphis) he performed the appropriate means the entire recreation,” coach Willie Inexperienced stated of Murphy. “When the ball got here to him, he made good performs. He was stable, he shot the duvet off the ball. He received to the basket, he received to the free-throw line. It is a nice alternative for Trey, and he took full benefit of it.”

–Discipline Degree Media