The Los Angeles Clippers suffered a disappointing loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves after holding a lead for the majority of the first play-in game. The Timberwolves rallied around their home crowd late and secured the scrappy 109-104 victory.
Due to the setup of the play-in tournament, the Clippers are not eliminated yet and will be matching up with the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. This will be the final chance for both teams to punch their tickets to the playoffs, with a matchup against the No. 1 Phoenix Suns on the line.
While the Pelicans are riding some momentum after their initial victory over the Spurs, the Clippers should remain confident in their chances on their home floor. Here are three bold Clippers predictions for the 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament showdown against the Pelicans.
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Clippers play-in tournament predictions vs. Pelicans
3. Paul George will score 35+ points
As the game slows down and the playoff atmosphere begins to build, it is put to the test who the real stars are. The Clippers should be confident in their superstar Paul George, who has been incredibly impactful since returning to the lineup. In 31 games played this season, George averaged 24.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 2.2 steals per game.
His return reignited the Clippers down the stretch of the season. One of these victories was a 119-100 victory over the Pelicans on April 3. George is coming off a 34-point performance against the Timberwolves and will carry this high level of play into this matchup. PG-13 is sure to take a large portion of the Clippers' offensive looks and will be ready to capitalize on these. Expect the Clippers star to pour in at least 35 points and never take his foot off the gas like what happened in the Timberwolves matchup.
2. Ty Lue's game plan will neutralize CJ McCollum
The Clippers may not have come out on top against the Timberwolves, but Ty Lue had an impressive plan that the team executed effectively in the matchup. It was clear that Lue had the intention to take Karl-Anthony Town out of the game, and the team did exactly that. By aggressively doubling Towns and attacking him defensively, the Clippers prevented the three-time All-Star from getting going. Towns fouled out in just 24 minutes of play and was able to tally just 11 points and five rebounds during this time.
When looking ahead to this Pelicans matchup, it is sure that Lue will also have some tricks up his sleeve. New Orleans is led by Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, who each require some adjustments to the game plan. While Ingram is consistent in his production, CJ McCollum has a much more hot and cold nature, though he has been mostly hot since coming to New Orleans. The 6-foot-3 guard notched 24.3 points per game in the regular season with the Pelicans and then put up 32 points against San Antonio.
When McCollum has it going, the Pelicans are a much scarier team. Expect Ty Lue to scheme up a variety of defensive sets and use a combination of Paul George, Robert Covington, Norman Powell, and Terance Mann to get CJ McCollum off his game.
1. Clippers will shoot over 40% from 3-point range to earn a spot in the playoffs
One of the largest statistical differences in these teams is how they stack up with their shooting. The Pelicans struggle to bother opposing shooters and finished with the seventh-worst opponent field goal percentage at 47.1% and the fifth-worst opposing 3-point percentage at 36.5%.
This is not good news against a Clippers team that can catch fire from the perimeter. The Clippers ranked third in 3-point percentage in the NBA as a team at 37.5% on the season. LA also shot a ridiculous 48.7% from 3 in the last three games since Norman Powell returned to the lineup. They have a variety of guys who are threats from beyond the arc and will be even more dangerous if Luke Kennard plays. Kennard led the NBA in 3-point shooting at 44.9% but is questionable for this game.
The Pelicans largely struggled defensively in the regular season and ranked in the bottom half of the league in nearly all defensive categories. New Orleans will be hoping to outscore the Clippers in this matchup but simply may not be capable of keeping up with the Clippers' variety of weapons, especially against a quality LA defense.
This is certain to be a hard-fought battle, but the Clippers should feel confident in how they stack up in this matchup. Playing at home with the better coach, biggest star, and more impressive outside shooting may just be enough to overwhelm this inexperienced Pelicans team. Look for the Clippers to wipe away the disappointing loss to the Timberwolves and officially punch their postseason ticket.
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