The Los Angeles Clippers head to New Orleans on Wednesday night for a Western Conference meeting with the Pelicans, a game that carries weight for two teams trying to move things in the right direction. The Clippers are looking to end a short losing streak to help their play-in tournament prospects, while the Pelicans are trying to simply continue building momentum late in the season. Before tip-off from New Orleans, you will find my Clippers vs Pelicans prediction right here.
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Los Angeles Clippers @ New Orleans Pelicans
- Date & Time: Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
The Clippers enter this contest after a tight loss to San Antonio, a game where their offense showed promise but defensive lapses proved costly late. Los Angeles has been competitive lately, winning several recent games prior to that setback, and remains dangerous when its primary scorers are active.
New Orleans, meanwhile, is trending upward with multiple wins in recent outings, including a strong offensive showing in a blowout victory over Dallas. The Pelicans have been pushing the tempo effectively, which has translated into higher scoring outputs. Their ability to maintain that pace against a Clippers team that prefers a slower rhythm will be a deciding factor.
Another key storyline revolves around health. The Clippers have dealt with absences, including Kawhi Leonard in their most recent game, and his status impacts both scoring output and defensive intensity. Leonard is questionable to compete in this matchup for the Clippers. The Pelicans have also rotated contributors, but their depth has stepped up in recent games, while the health of Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray has helped them tremendously.
Key Players
New Orleans Pelicans
- Trey Murphy III leads the team with 22.1 points per game and provides perimeter scoring and spacing. His three-point shooting makes him a constant threat.
- Zion Williamson is a dominant interior presence, recently scoring 27 points in a win over Dallas, and his ability to attack the paint can exploit weaker interior defenses.
- Dejounte Murray adds scoring and playmaking, highlighted by a recent 35-point performance, giving the Pelicans another reliable offensive engine.
Los Angeles Clippers
- Kawhi Leonard averages 27.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, serving as the focal point on both ends when available.
- Darius Garland is also listed as questionable for this game, but he will be so important to LA’s success, especially with Leonard questionable and Bennedict Mathurin listed as out with a toe injury.
Stat Comparison
| Stat | Clippers | Pelicans |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 113.5 | 115.6 |
| Points allowed per game | 112.7 | 119.7 |
| Field Goal % | 48% | 47% |
| Rebounds per game | 40.7 | 44.2 |
| Assists per game | 23.6 | 25.1 |
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
Past meetings this season
- The Clippers have already defeated the Pelicans twice so far this season.
- Both of those previous meetings were held in Inglewood. This is the first of two matchups between these teams to be played in New Orleans.
ATS records
- The Clippers re 37-31 against the spread this season.
- The Pelicans are 40-28-1 against the spread for the year.
Clippers vs Pelicans Pick & Model Projection
- Score Projection: Clippers 110 – Pelicans 114 ATS PRO
- Pick: Pelicans -1.5 ATS PRO
- Confidence: 3 out of 5 ATS PRO
- Win Probability: Clippers 48%, Pelicans 52% ATS PRO
The numbers point toward a competitive game, but I lean toward the Pelicans winning and covering the spread as a slight favorite at home. New Orleans has improved dramatically as the season has gone on and some of their key contributors have returned to action. And with Leonard, Garland, and Mathurin all dealing with injuries of some kind for the Clippers, I’ll lay the 1.5 points with the Pels in this Western Conference matchup on Wednesday night.
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