NBA regular season, the Clippers narrowly defeated the Pelicans 116-113. This game was very close between the Clippers and the Pelicans. The Clippers trailed in the first quarter but managed to catch up in the second half. The final moments were very intense. Fortunately, Powell and Harden continued to exert themselves to lead the team to victory, ultimately securing the win.
Two players had excellent performances throughout the game. Powell's performance in the final moments was still effective. He could score continuously, helping the team turn the situation around. In the entire game, Powell scored 35 points with 13 out of 27 shots, which is a huge scoring impact. Every time they reached the decisive period, he could deliver stable output. Harden also had a very high three-point shooting rate in this game, scoring 25 points with 5 out of 10 shots. This level of play was enough. There were also crucial free throws in the final moments that sealed the game, consolidating their advantage.
Zubac, Xiao Jones, Dunn, Batum, and Bamba all had passable performances. Zubac protected the rebounds perfectly in this game, scoring full marks for his ability to "eat cakes." However, he was constantly targeted by opponents on the defensive end, and CJ played him very easily. Offensively, Zubac faced some disadvantages against Misi, but a key jump shot helped change the situation. The strengths and weaknesses of Xiao Jones and Dunn were very obvious. Their defense was solid, and both could contribute to the perimeter defense system. Unfortunately, they missed their three-point shots, which was a significant flaw. However, such performances were sufficient for the Clippers.
Batum was also very crucial in this game. Although he only scored 4 points on the offensive end, he could lock down the opponent at critical moments. Especially in the last few minutes, he could grab rebounds from a crowd, apply pressure in the frontcourt, and lock down the opponent's offense on the defensive end. Such players are incredibly useful. Bamba did not make any mistakes in this game. He fought hard for offensive rebounds and played with great tenacity, scoring 2+3 with 1 out of 1 shots.
Xiao Porter and Coffey both had poor performances. Xiao Porter seemed a bit lost in this game, with only 2 out of 9 shots made, and his turnovers disrupted his teammates' rhythm. It might be because his condition wasn't good after returning from injury; he should reduce his ball handling in the future, or else it would be too unstable. Coffey hesitated during the game, even passing the ball to his teammates when he had an open shot. Such choices could be fatal. If they were in a crucial game, it would be difficult for them to get re-used.