The Pelicans beat the Clippers 123-104 for the second time this season

Los Angeles Clippers #1 Reggie Jackson right-hand floater against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Staple Center. Photo by William Johnson/T.G.Sportstv1.

11/29/21 LOS ANGELES, CA - Jonas Valanciunas scored 39-points to help the New Orleans Pelicans (6-17) beat the Los Angeles Clippers (11-10) 123-104 at the Staple Center for the second time this season.

Paul George scored 27-points, Reggie Jackson 19-points, and Serge Ibaka 13-points. The other top scores for the Pelicans were Brandon Ingram with 27-points and Herbert Jones with 16-points.

The Clippers Ivica Zubac's left-handed dunk gave the Clippers a 6-5 lead in the first quarter. Paul George tied the game 8-8 with his driving layup. The Pelicans led 18-11 after a jump shot by Brandon Ingram.

New Orleans led 21-12 after a three-pointer by Jonas Valanciunas. The Clippers were down 33-14 after Ingram made a jump shot. Serge Ibaka's layup made the score 33-18.

Reggie Jackson made a three-point basket that had the Clippers down 37-22 at the end of the quarter.

Ibaka made back-to-back three-pointers had the Clippers trailing 41-31 with 9:08 left in the first half.

New Orleans Pelicans #17 Jonas Valanciunas fall-away jump shot inside the key against the Los Angeles Clippers #40 Ivica Zubac. Photo by William Johnson/T.G.Sportstv1.

Valanciunas would make a three-pointer to give the Pelicans a 60-39 lead with 4:45 left before halftime.

The Clippers on defense had a hard time getting any defensive stops to help them get back in the game.

"We just couldn't stop them tonight," Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. "We were due for a bad defensive game … but they got anything they wanted, and we couldn't get in any rhythm offensively."

New Orleans led at halftime 67-52. Paul George led the Clippers in scoring in the first half with 17-points, Ibaka with 10-points, and Jackson with 9-points. Valanciunas led the Pelicans in scoring with 29-points and Ingram with 15-points.

The Clippers trail the Pelicans 73-61 in the third quarter after Amir Coffey made a three-point shot, forcing them to call a timeout. The Pelican went on a 7-2 run, now led 80-63.

The Clippers were down by fourteen points 84-70 after Ibaka made another three-point shot. Luke Kennard's jump shot made the score 87-76 in favor of the Pelicans.

The Clippers trail at the end of the quarter 90-78 after a buzzer-beater three-point shot by Garrett Temple.

Los Angeles Clippers #13 Paul George jump shot being challenged by the New Orleans Pelicans #17 Jonas Valanciunas. Photo by William Johnson/T.G.Sportstv1.

George's jump shot in the fourth quarter had the Clippers down 95-84 with 7:59 left in the game.

George drove to the basket and was fouled on his made layup, made his free throw, and the Clippers now trailing 95-87.

The Clippers were in striking range, down by eight points, 100-92 after a three-pointer by George with 6:00 left in the game. The Pelicans increased their lead to 107-93 after a dunk by Valanuinas.

The Pelicans continue to pull away leading 114-95 with a basket by Josh Hart with 2:25 left in the game. Coffey's jump shot inside the paint made the score 116-99.

The Clippers lost to the Pelicans 123-104, with back-to-back losses at the Staple Center