New Orleans Pelicans Beat Clippers to Boost Playoff Hopes

• Brandon Ingram's superb display lifted the New Orleans Pelicans past the Los Angeles Clippers
• The Pelicans won 122-114 with Ingram scoring 36 points without attempting a three-pointer
• The Clippers dropped to 6th in the West with a 41-38 record while the Pelicans jumped to 7th with a 40-38 record

New Orleans Pelicans produced another impressive performance to beat the Los Angeles Clippers as the season draws to a close

They have now won seven of their last eight games and sit 7th in the Western Conference with a 40-38 record.

Brandon Ingram scored 36 points without attempting a three-pointer. Jonas Valanciunas had a double-double (23/12), while CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy III added 19 points each.

Kawhi Leonard scored 40 points for the visitors who are still without Paul George who is recovering from a knee injury. Russell Westbrook added 24 points and nine assists, per Deadspin.

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The Clippers dropped to 6th in the West and have a 41-38 record, half a game behind the 5th-placed Golden State Warriors.

The Pelicans have four tough games left in the NBA regular season but three of them are at home.

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Ingram was terrific all night, going 13-for-23 from the field, and wanted his team to beat a serious contender in the West. Ingram has now scored 25 or more points in nine straight games.

“If you want to be the best, you have to go against the best,” Ingram said. “And you have to beat them. That’s one of the things that was in my head tonight. Just trying to get this win tonight. Not individually. But together as a team,” via ESPN.

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Clippers coach Ty Lue acknowledged that his tea struggled defensively.

“It was just a tough night for us defensively,” Lue said. “After that first quarter, they really picked up the offensive scoring and it was just tough to slow them down.”

The Clippers have three games left. they host the Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers before closing their regular season against Phoenix Suns.

Zion Williamson's injury concern

Sports Brief earlier reported on the injury of Pelicans star Zion Williamson who has been plagued by injuries in his career.

The former Duke star injured his hamstring on January 2 against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Pelicans have struggled since he suffered that injury.

His team's impressive start to the season was halted after he went down. He is expected to be back before the regular season winds down.