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Pelicans earn 105-101 win over Clippers, claim No. 8 seed

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A franchise player out for the season. A first-year head coach. A 1-12 start. The New Orleans Pelicans overcame it all and stormed back to make the playoffs.

Brandon Ingram scored 30 points and the Pelicans rallied from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the depleted Los Angeles Clippers 105-101 in a play-in Friday night and earn the West's No. 8 seed.

'œThat win was big-time,'ť Pelicans coach Willie Green said.

New Orleans blew a 16-point lead in the first half and didn't grab the lead for good until the game's final 4 1/2 minutes.

'œIt was an emotional game, a ton of highs and lows,'ť Green said. 'œBut for us, our mentality is we're going to continue to fight. We're not going to fade out.'ť

The Pelicans made the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18, guided by Green, a former Clipper. They've been without Zion Williamson all season because of a foot injury.

'œStarting off 1-12 and 3-16, you're thinking when is it going to pick up?'ť rookie Trey Murphy said. 'œBeing my first year, I don't know what winning is like. Look at us now.'ť

CJ McCollum added 19 points and Larry Nance Jr. had 14 points and 16 rebounds for New Orleans, which will play No. 1 seed Phoenix in the first round. Game 1 is Sunday in the desert.

'œThis team is resilient,'ť said Nance, who was traded, along with McCollum, from Portland in February and recently returned from knee surgery. 'œThey started 1-12. That's so hard to pick yourself up from. I've been in seasons like that, it's hard to keep going and keep striving for it.'ť

The Clippers were dealt a huge blow earlier in the day when Paul George entered the league's health and safety protocols. They'd already been without Kawhi Leonard all season while he rehabbed an ACL injury. He watched from the bench early in the game.

Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson each had 27 points for the Clippers.

'œI am disappointed in us not being able to make the playoffs, no matter who was playing," said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, who is missing the postseason for the first time as a head coach.

The Pelicans shot 57% in the first half and were better on the boards, in the paint and off the bench. They led by 16 in the second quarter before the Clippers cut their deficit to 56-46 at halftime.

The Clippers roared back in the third, outscoring the Pelicans 38-18. They opened with a 20-2 run that had the crowd on its feet. Jackson scored 10 points and Morris added six in the spurt.

Robert Covington started the third in place of 7-footer Ivica Zubac and his three-point play gave the Clippers a 75-62 lead, their largest of the game.

Ingram scored five of the Pelicans' final 12 points to send them into the fourth trailing 84-74.

'œJust having faith in each other and staying connected,'ť Green said of the Pelicans' mindset. 'œKnowing we took their best shot and we're only down 10 going into the fourth.'ť

That's when New Orleans staged a rally of its own.

After the Clippers scored to go up by 13 points, the Pelicans ran off 11 straight points and then McCollum hit a 3-pointer to tie it, 88-all.

Murphy hit his second 3-pointer of the quarter for another tie at 94-all.

That sparked a 10-0 run that gave the Pelicans a 101-94 lead, capped by Murphy's 3-pointer that bounced on the rim and went in. He was one of three rookies who contributed.

'œMurphy had huge stones to come in and make those big shots they needed when they were struggling to score the basketball,'ť Lue said.

The Clippers twice closed within two in the final 1:17, but they missed 2 of 4 free throws and Jackson and Morris missed shots down the stretch to see their season slip away.

'œI thought our guys got a little tired,'ť Lue said. 'œWe didn't continue to keep attacking.'ť

The Clippers, who made the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history last year, also were missing Luke Kennard. The league's 3-point percentage leader didn't play because of a sore right hamstring that kept him out of the loss at Minnesota on Tuesday in the team's first play-in game.

TIP-INS

Pelicans: They had won the season series, 3-1.

Clippers: Hadn't missed the playoffs since 2017-18 season. ... Nicolas Batum and Terance Mann started in place of George and Kennard ... Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, said Leonard 'œcontinues to progress with his rehab,'ť but there is no timetable for his return.

UP NEXT

The Pelicans were 1-3 against the Suns this season.

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New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III celebrates along with teammates on the bench after scoring during the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game against the Los Angeles Clippers Friday, April 15, 2022, in Los Angeles. The Pelicans won 105-101. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
Los Angeles Clippers guard Reggie Jackson walks off the court after the Clippers lost to the New Orleans Pelicans 105-101 in an NBA basketball play-in tournament game Friday, April 15, 2022, in Los Angeles. The Pelicans won 105-101. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, right, drives past Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann during the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game Friday, April 15, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
Los Angeles Clippers forward Norman Powell, left, shoots as New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game Friday, April 15, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, right, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game Friday, April 15, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr., right, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers forward Norman Powell defends during the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game Friday, April 15, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
New Orleans Pelicans guard Devonte' Graham, right, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein defends during the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game Friday, April 15, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann, second from right, shoots as New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum, second from, left, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game Friday, April 15, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
Los Angeles Clippers' Kawhi Leonard, center, sits on the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game against the New Orleans Pelicans Friday, April 15, 2022, in Los Angeles. The Pelicans won 105-101. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr., left, drives by New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones during the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game Friday, April 15, 2022, in Los Angeles. The Pelicans won 105-101. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
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