Clippers vs Pelicans: Kawhi Leonard’s buzzer-beater lifts L.A. 126–124 in NBA Cup thriller

The LA Clippers edged the New Orleans Pelicans, 126–124, on Friday night at Intuit Dome, sealed by a buzzer-beating jumper from Kawhi Leonard that capped a 34-point performance and pushed Los Angeles above .500 in the season’s opening stretch. The game doubled as NBA Cup group play, giving the Clippers an early jolt in the in-season tournament while New Orleans slid to a winless start.

Late-game execution defines Clippers vs Pelicans

In a contest that swung wildly—New Orleans opened with pace, the Clippers countered with a dominant second quarter, and both sides traded blows late—possession value decided everything. Los Angeles tightened its spacing and put the ball in Leonard’s hands for the final look. The star forward delivered with a mid-range dagger at the horn, a reminder that in close games the Clippers’ half-court poise can flatten hot stretches from opponents.

New Orleans fought to the end, pouring in 40 points in the fourth quarter to erase most of a late deficit. Aggressive drives, timely cuts, and second-chance buckets kept the Pelicans within a single possession for the final minute. But the Clippers’ situational defense—switching selectively to protect the arc while walling off the rim—forced just enough hesitation on the final Pelicans trip to preserve a tie and set up the winner.

Clippers vs Pelicans by the numbers

• Final score: Clippers 126, Pelicans 124

• Venue: Intuit Dome, Inglewood (NBA Cup – group play)

• Team form: Clippers improve to 3–2; Pelicans fall to 0–5

• Swing quarter: L.A.’s 41-point second period built the cushion that survived New Orleans’ 40-point fourth

The stat that won it for Los Angeles wasn’t only Leonard’s scoring; it was control of the mid-clock possessions. The Clippers repeatedly generated clean looks around the elbows and short corners when the Pelicans tried to speed them up. That steadiness trimmed turnovers and limited live-ball runouts that could have flipped the result in the final two minutes.

What the Pelicans can build on after Clippers vs Pelicans

Despite the loss, New Orleans showed the blueprint for climbing out of an early-season hole:

1. Tempo with balance: The Pelicans were at their best when they ran after rebounds but flowed into organized half-court sets if the first break wasn’t there. That approach produced a 40-point fourth without devolving into rushed threes.

2. Rim pressure: Repeated attacks forced rotations and opened late-clock cuts. When New Orleans paired paint touches with quick kick-outs, spacing improved and the ball found the weak side.

3. Bench energy: Rotational pieces delivered important stretches of defense and second-chance points. Carrying that bench intensity earlier—especially to close second quarters—could help avoid the deep holes that make road comebacks so fragile.

Tactical notes from Clippers vs Pelicans

• Mismatch hunting: The Clippers methodically targeted favorable matchups to free Leonard and their wings from traps. By screening with shooters, they discouraged hard doubles and created mid-range pockets.

• Pelicans’ counters: New Orleans toggled between drop and switch, then sprinkled in zone possessions to blunt the elbow actions. The mix worked until late when Los Angeles forced switches higher and attacked the nail before help could arrive.

• Glass and whistles: With a tight whistle in the final minutes, verticality discipline mattered. L.A. stayed out of penalty just long enough to keep New Orleans from living at the stripe during the decisive possessions.

Why this NBA Cup result matters

Group games in the NBA’s in-season tournament compress urgency into October and November. For the Clippers, banked wins now can reduce pressure later and offer a pathway to a knockout date on neutral floors. For the Pelicans, the near miss underscores the margin they’re managing: five or six cleaner trips—especially to close the second quarter—could have flipped both point differential and result in a format where every possession shapes tiebreakers.

What’s next after Clippers vs Pelicans

• Clippers: Building on late-game clarity is the priority. Expect a continued emphasis on structured sets in crunch time that feature Leonard as the first option with counters ready if defenses load up.

• Pelicans: The immediate focus is breaking the skid. Tightening second-quarter defense and trimming early turnovers should be at the top of the checklist before the road schedule hardens.

The first Clippers vs Pelicans meeting of the season delivered everything the NBA Cup promises—stakes, pace, and a winner-take-all shot. With the West already congested, this one may read like a single October result on paper, but the habits revealed on both sides will echo into November.