Kawhi Leonard (L) of the LA Clippers drives against Brandon Ingram (R) of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, January 18, 2020.
As disappointed as Clippers coach Doc Rivers was to see his team give up 80 first-half points, he now has evidence that his team can do that and still find a way to win – on the road.
Kawhi Leonard scored 39 points and the Clippers rallied to beat the recently resurgent New Orleans Pelicans 133-130 on Saturday.
"Clearly, the defense didn't wake up for either team," Rivers said. "It was one of those games where, at halftime, I said, 'Guys, first team that plays any defense will win this game.'"
"We played defense in the fourth," Rivers continued. "That's why we won."
Lou Williams scored 14 of his 32 points during a dominant fourth quarter for Los Angeles, which outscored the Pelicans 31-20 in the final 12 minutes.
Lou Williams of the LA Clippers handles the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, January 18, 2020.
"I feel like I can make 100 in a row once I make one," Williams said of his fourth-quarter surge. "I feel like I can make anything after that."
Williams' 3 with 31.6 seconds left, after Patrick Beverley had rebounded Leonard's miss, gave the Clippers a 133-127 lead and sent numerous fans toward the exits.
"Very talented scorer – fearless, just goes out there and plays the game," Leonard said of Williams. "He pushed us to win that game in that fourth quarter. It just gives you relief that you have somebody that also can take over."
JJ Redick hit a quick 3 in response to Williams' clutch basket, and after Leonard ran down the shot clock and missed from deep, New Orleans had 2.4 seconds to attempt a tying 3 that Redick missed off the back rim.
"The Pelicans can score. They've got a lot of talent over there," Leonard said. "They have youth. They play hard. So Doc just wanted us to grind out the win. He kept telling us we just got to find a way."
Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers shoots the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, January 18, 2020.
"And, obviously, everybody wants to play better defense," Leonard added.
Montrezl Harrell scored 24 points for the Clippers, who trailed by 10 in the final seconds of the third quarter, but turned Brandon Ingram's turnover into two free throws by Williams, and then opened the fourth with an 8-0 run – capped by Williams' and JaMychal Green's back-to-back 3s – to tie it at 110.
After shooting 58.5 percent (38 of 65) in the first three quarters, the Pelicans made 8 of 21 shots in the fourth as the game slipped away from them.
"Both teams kind of slowed down a little bit in the fourth quarter, but I think we probably turned the ball over a couple of times and let a rebound get away, and they just went and made baskets," said Pelicans center Derrick Favors, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds. "It was more maybe letting like little things take us out the game."
Lonzo Ball had 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for the Pelicans, who were seeking their 11th victory in 15 games despite the recent absence of guard Jrue Holiday, who has missed seven games with an elbow injury.
Beating the contending Clippers was going to be a tall order, but Ball asserted, "I don't believe in moral victories. I thought we should have won the game."
Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans handles the ball against the LA Clippers at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, January 18, 2020.
Ingram had 21 points and Redick finished with 19.
The teams combined for 152 points in a fast-paced first half, during which New Orleans' 80 points tied a franchise record.
Favors made his first seven shots and had 15 of his points in the opening 24 minutes, when the Pelicans shot 63.6 percent.