Los Angeles Clippers @ New Orleans Pelicans - March 11, 2025

The Smoothie King Center will be buzzing on Tuesday night as the Los Angeles Clippers make their way to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans. As a former coach, I’ve always believed that every game tells a story, and this one promises to be an intriguing chapter in both teams’ narratives.

The Clippers come into this matchup with a record of 35-29. They’ve hit their stride recently, winning three straight games. However, despite their success on the court, they’ve struggled against the spread lately—2-9 in their last 11 games. Still, they have managed to put up respectable offensive numbers, averaging about 110.8 points per game while shooting nearly 47% from the field. The ability to stretch defenses with their three-point shooting (36% from beyond the arc) adds another dimension to their offense that could prove pivotal in this contest.

On the flip side, we have the Pelicans, who are having a tough season at 17-48. They’ve lost four consecutive games and have only managed to cover the spread once in their last six outings. Their offensive stats reflect struggles as well; they average just under 111 points per game but shoot at a lower percentage than LA at around 45%. They also struggle behind the arc (34%) and at the free-throw line (75%). With only about 25 assists per game, it appears that ball movement has become an issue for New Orleans—a critical factor when trying to establish offensive rhythm against a team like LA.

Defensively, both teams show some similarities statistically. The Clippers slightly edge out in total rebounds and steals while committing marginally more fouls each game than New Orleans does. The Pelicans give up about 43 rebounds per game but generate less defensive pressure with fewer steals compared to Los Angeles’ solid defensive efforts.

Looking ahead to predictions: I believe tonight’s match favors the Clippers significantly due not only to their current form but also because of how they can exploit mismatches offensively against a struggling Pelicans defense. It’s crucial for them to capitalize on every opportunity as they look toward playoff positioning.

I expect LA not only to win but also cover that -7.5 point spread based on how they’ve performed recently—and given New Orleans’ inability to turn things around defensively or offensively over recent weeks.

In terms of scoring potential, I anticipate this game going over tonight’s total of 220.5 points due primarily to both teams’ tendencies for high-scoring affairs—the Clippers’ offense should be able to break through even if Pelican defense shows any signs of life today.

Overall, expect an exciting clash with plenty of action where experience meets youthful determination—but ultimately I see talent winning out here as Los Angeles pulls away down the stretch!