New Orleans Pelicans: 3 storylines to watch against the Los Angeles Clippers

The New Orleans Pelicans face one of their sternest tests this season on Sunday night when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Pels are coming off a blowout win against the Cleveland Cavaliers in which most of the second half amounted to glorified garbage time. It was a dominant performance from Brandon Ingram, who led New Orleans in scoring on a hyper-efficient outing, while there were also positive glimpses from the youngsters in Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaxson Hayes.

Still, the Clippers pose a much different challenge than the Cavs. They are coming off their own gargantuan victory against the Golden State Warriors and are working hard to shed the negative reputation they earned in last season’s playoffs.

After being touted as one of the top teams in the association following the signings of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers’ first season with their big two sputtered to an undignified end. Unsavory locker room rumors swirled around Los Angeles over the entirety of the season, ending with longtime head coach Doc Rivers stepping down.

Rivers promptly joined the Philadelphia 76ers in the east and was eventually replaced by Lue, who had been acting as an assistant coach in Los Angeles. Lue, who won an NBA title for the Cleveland Cavaliers, is steering the Clippers in the right direction up to this point.

The Clippers are top six in both offense and defense with their franchise stars enjoying some of their best basketball ever. Paul George, after being ridiculed for probably talking just a bit too much during the last postseason, is having the most efficient season of his career. Kawhi Leonard has become an even more lethal scorer and continued expanding on his creation skills.

The only player inactive for the Pelicans is JJ Redick, who is still out with a heel injury. Meanwhile, the Clippers will likely be without Patrick Beverley.