Pelicans at Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers have added another key piece as they prepare for a playoff run and all signs point to Danny Granger being in uniform Saturday when the Clippers host the New Orleans Pelicans. The veteran small forward signed with the Clippers on Friday shortly after clearing waivers as Los Angeles bolsters its weakest position with 22 regular-season games left. The Pelicans have lost six consecutive games after falling 116-104 to the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
Los Angeles posted a 123-110 road victory over the Pelicans on Monday when it went 16-of-28 from 3-point range. New Orleans backup center Alexis Ajinca had the best game of his career with 19 points and 12 rebounds in the loss. The Clippers have won three straight games and Blake Griffin scored 23 points in Wednesday’s victory over the Houston Rockets to mark his 18th consecutive outing of 20 or more points. Los Angeles is 24-5 at home while the Pelicans are 10-21 on the road.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (23-35): All-Star forward Anthony Davis matched his career high of 32 points in the loss to Phoenix and showed no signs of being bothered by the shoulder injury that caused him to leave a game two nights earlier. Davis was a game-time decision but went 14-of-18 shooting and also recorded nine rebounds and three steals while playing 41 minutes. Swingman Tyreke Evans scored 14 points in his first start of the season but his toughest task was making it to the game after getting stuck in the hotel elevator and not making it to the arena until an hour before the start. “Next time I come to Phoenix, I will take the steps,” Evans said after the loss.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (40-20): Granger was traded from Indiana to Philadelphia at the trading deadline and reached a buyout with the 76ers, leading to the decision to join Los Angeles. “I’ve always had the desire to play with a point guard the caliber of Chris Paul,” Granger told reporters. “In the West, it’s a really tight race out here. I just thought I would be able to help this team the most.” The former All-Star averaged 8.3 points in 29 games as a reserve this season after missing all but five games last season due to a serious knee injury.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Clippers are 2-0 against the Pelicans this season and have won the last five meetings.
2. New Orleans’ longest skid of the season is an eight-game losing streak in January.
3. Los Angeles SG Jamal Crawford (calf) will miss at least two games after being injured in Wednesday’s game against Houston.