Clippers snap 3-game skid with win over Pelicans

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — After limping to the finish line in February with three straight losses, the Clippers made sure March didn’t feel anything like the month before it.

Behind another methodical night from Kawhi Leonard and a bench unit that overwhelmed New Orleans, the Clippers rolled past the Pelicans, 137-117, Sunday night at Intuit Dome.

The win snapped a three-game skid and lifted the Clippers to 28-31, with momentum finally pointing in the right direction heading into a pivotal back-to-back.

Kawhi Keeps Climbing

Leonard needed just 29 minutes to carve out 23 points, five assists, and three rebounds.

In doing so, he extended his streak to 37 consecutive 20-point games, now the third-longest in franchise history. Only Bob McAdoo has matched that mark in a Clippers uniform. That kind of company speaks for itself.

And Leonard wasn’t done making history.

With his 7,722nd point as a Clipper, he moved past Chris Paul for sole possession of sixth place on the franchise’s all-time scoring list. Quiet dominance has long been Leonard’s brand, but his place in Clippers history is becoming louder by the night.

Most importantly, he did his damage efficiently — and got his rest. Every starter logged under 30 minutes, a critical detail with Monday’s showdown looming in Golden State.

Balanced Attack, Bench Burst

This wasn’t a one-man show.

John Collins supplied 15 points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes, even if his 5-of-14 shooting line suggested there was more left on the table. Derrick Jones Jr. added 17 points, slicing into the paint and finishing in transition. Brook Lopez stretched the floor with 16 points and seven boards, knocking down 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and forcing New Orleans to defend 25 feet from the basket.

But the tone-shifter came from the second unit.

Jordan Miller erupted for 19 points on 5-of-6 shooting, adding eight assists and three steals in a dynamic 32-minute performance. He pushed tempo, disrupted passing lanes and repeatedly turned defense into offense. The Clippers’ lead ballooned to as many as 26, and much of that cushion came with Leonard watching comfortably from the bench.

Then there’s Bennedict Mathurin.

Mathurin finished with nine points and five rebounds, three on the offensive glass, in 25 minutes. The shooting splits haven’t been pretty since arriving in Los Angeles (39/19/84), but the impact has been real. In seven games as a Clipper, he’s averaging 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists with a +4.3 plus-minus per game. Even Sunday, on an off-shooting night, his energy, rim pressure and rebounding were felt.

He’s been the spark this bench has searched for — not always efficient, but consistently aggressive.

Defense Sets the Floor

The Clippers were sharp defensively, holding the Pelicans to 12-of-33 from three-point range while forcing 17 turnovers. Eleven steals fueled their transition game and kept New Orleans from ever establishing rhythm.

Former Clipper DeAndre Jordan drew the start for the Pelicans but managed just two points in 11 minutes. Dejounte Murray paced New Orleans with 17 points, five rebounds and five assists in 22 minutes, while Derik Queen scored 19 off the bench and was a perfect 7-of-7 from the line. Still, the Pelicans never seriously threatened after the Clippers seized control midway through the second quarter.

From there, it was cruise control.

Eyes on Golden State

The win was timely — not just for the standings, but for the psyche. The Clippers needed to feel good again. They needed to look connected again. Sunday provided both.

And help is on the way.

Darius Garland is set to make his Clippers debut Monday night against the Warriors, adding another ball-handler and playmaker to a group that already showed how dangerous it can be when the ball pops.

Leonard didn’t hide the anticipation.

“Very excited. He’s happy to get back to play. We are all excited to see what he can contribute to us on the floor. It’s going to take some time to get his normal minutes back but we’re happy to see him out there.”

The Clippers handled their business Sunday. They rested their starters. They rediscovered their defensive edge. They made history. Now comes the real test, a big game in Golden State on Monday night, with March just getting started and a season still very much in the balance.