The New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Clippers play each other for the last time this season. Their regular-season series is tied at 1-1, so this contest will settle the score for good. Will the Pelicans come away with a victory despite a banged-up roster? Or, will the Clippers notch an important win, as they continue to fight for a sure spot in the 2025 NBA Playoffs?

Catch this game live on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 10:30 AM, Manila time

Away: New Orleans Pelicans (21-54, 7-30 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Jose Alvarado
  • Bruce Brown
  • Keion Brooks Jr.
  • Kelly Olynyk
  •  Yves Missi

The Pelicans have already shut down CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson for the remainder of the season, as there’s just nothing much for the team to play for outside of their chances to win the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes. But one thing about the Pels is that they seem to love playing the Clippers on the road, as they are 5-0 straight up and 5-0 against the spread in their last five games against LA as the visiting team.

But if they are to add to their recent success away from home versus the Clippers, the Pelicans will have to do it this Thursday without the pair of Zion and McCollum, who have already been shut down for the remainder of the year.

The Pelicans are 2-1 against the spread in their last three road games. It is also worth mentioning that the total has hit the Over in nine of New Orleans’ last 10 games away from home.

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Home: Los Angeles Clippers (43-32, 25-11 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • James Harden
  • Kris Dunn
  • Norman Powell
  • Kawhi Leonard
  • Ivica Zubac

Unlike the Pelicans, the Clippers still have a lot to play for. Los Angeles is battling for a sure spot in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. The Clippers are seventh in the Western Conference standings but are just half a game outside of the top six. Their eyes should be lighting up over the prospect of facing a lottery-bound team that is missing its top stars like the Pels. Los Angeles is also coming off a 96-87 victory over a solid team in the form of the Orlando Magic on the road to finish a four-game road trip last Tuesday. 

In that game, Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell each had 21 points while James Harden provided 20 points. Ivica Zubac had a night himself, scoring 18 points and grabbing 20 boards. 

As a team, the Clippers are 20th in the league with 112.2 points per game and fourth with a defense that allows just 108.4 points per outing. Without Williamson and McCollum on the other side, the Clippers should be able to find success defensively versus the Pelicans, who are -10.6 points per 100 possessions worse when he’s off the court. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are -4.6 per 100 possessions worse when McCollum is off the court.

PICKS:

Spread: Los Angeles Clippers  (-18.0)

Over/Under: Over (216.5)

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