The Los Angeles Clippers enter Wednesday’s matchup at the Smoothie King Center with several key players sidelined. Bradley Beal, Bennedict Mathurin, and Yanic Konan Niederhauser are out, while Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland are listed as questionable.
New Orleans Pelicans also have absences, including Bryce McGowens out with a toe fracture and G League two-way players Trey Alexander, Hunter Dickinson, and Josh Oduro inactive. Dejounte Murray is questionable due to illness.
Leonard is the Clippers’ leading scorer, averaging 28.3 points per game, but his availability is uncertain.
For the Pelicans, Trey Murphy III leads with 21.9 points per game, while Zion Williamson adds 21.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest. Saddiq Bey contributes 17.2 points per game, with Herbert Jones anchoring defense and facilitating plays.
This season, the Clippers have won both prior matchups against the Pelicans, including a 137-117 victory on March 1 and a narrow 126-124 win in the NBA Cup on October 31.
Recent form shows the Pelicans winning two of their last three games, including a 129-111 victory over Dallas, while the Clippers have dropped consecutive contests, falling 115-119 to San Antonio and 109-118 to Sacramento.
Los Angeles sits eighth in the Western Conference at 34-34, fighting for playoff positioning, while New Orleans remains near the bottom at 23-46.
