Paul Helps Clippers Beat Pelicans 114-111 In OT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chris Paul had 25 points and 11 assists, Jamal Crawford added 21 points, and the Los Angeles Clippers extended the NBA's longest active winning streak to nine games with a 114-111 overtime victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.
Two-time All-Star Anthony Davis, the Pelicans' leading scorer and rebounder, did not play because of a back contusion. He was hurt when he dove over the first row of seats chasing a loose ball early in the Pelicans' 91-86 home loss to Indiana on Friday night.
The Pelicans forced overtime when Jrue Holiday made three free throws after he was fouled by Austin Rivers on a 3-point attempt from the top of the key with 1.6 seconds left.
Los Angeles native Holiday scored 12 of his season-high 29 points off the bench in the fourth quarter to help New Orleans erase a 12-point deficit. Tyreke Evans added 26.
Ryan Anderson, making his fourth start of the season in Davis' power forward spot, had 16 points and 10 rebounds in 42 minutes.
The Pelicans have lost five of their last six, including a 95-89 defeat at home against the Clippers on New Year's Eve.
Trailing 88-76 early in the fourth, the Pelicans narrowed the gap to 93-89 with a 13-5 run capped by Evans' fast-break layup with 6:54 to play. Holiday cut it to 98-96 on a 3-pointer with 3:32 remaining, but Dante Cunningham missed a potential go-ahead 3-point shot with 8 seconds on the clock.
Wesley Johnson and Paul hit 3-pointers 1:07 apart in the final 2:22 of overtime to help the Clippers close it out.
The winning streak is the Clippers' fourth of nine or more games during the past four seasons. They also had a nine-game run last season, an 11-game stretch in 2013-14, and won a franchise-record 17 straight in 2012-13 — going 16-0 in December.
Los Angeles is 8-0 since leading scorer Blake Griffin went down with a partially torn tendon in his left quad. Overall, they are 20-8 when the five-time All-Star has sat out due to injury or suspension — including a 9-6 mark last season.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: The Pelicans are 0-4 with Davis out of the lineup. ... Last season, New Orleans was 6-8 when Davis didn't play — including a 108-103 home win against the Clippers in which Anderson and former Clipper Eric Gordon combined for 52 points. ... The Pelicans are 2-6 since trading point guard Ish Smith to Philadelphia for a pair of second-round draft picks on Dec. 24. ... The Pelicans finished with eight steals, after setting a franchise record against Indiana with 21.
Clippers: The Clippers missed 16 of 34 free throws. ... The Clippers have won 14 of the last 19 meetings with New Orleans after losing each of the previous 14. They have beaten the Pelicans at home seven straight times. ... Ten of the Clippers' 25 victories have been decided by margins of five points or fewer. .. The Clippers are 9-4 at home when leading at halftime. They were 25-0 last season.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: At Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
Clippers: Host Miami on Wednesday night.
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