On April 16, Beijing time, the NBA play-offs, the Pelicans defeated the Clippers 105-101, got the last playoff ticket, returned to the playoffs after 4 years, and played against the Suns in the first round. The Pelicans led the Clippers by 16 points in the first half, and the Clippers fought back frantically in the third quarter, playing a 38-18 single-quarter score to successfully surpass the Pelicans in double digits. The pelicans frantically chased points in the last quarter and successfully achieved a score reversal at a critical moment. With Valanciunas scoring a key dunk, the Pelicans sealed the win and won the game.
The Clippers suffered a devastating blow before the game, with home star Paul George triggering a health and safety agreement, and the main shooter Kennard absent due to injury, and the inability of the two to play led to a significant reduction in the Clippers' ability. Ingram fired widely in the first quarter, scoring 16 points on 8-of-9 in the quarter to help the Pelicans gradually widen the point gap. As the king of this season's reversal, the Clippers started the third quarter with a 20-2 offensive climax to complete the score reversal. Unfortunately, the Clippers failed to maintain the momentum of the reversal until the end of the final game, and finally stood in front of the playoffs and were turned away by the playoffs.
With the Clippers missing the playoffs, the Lakers and Clippers' two Los Angeles teams have decided to miss the playoffs at the same time this season, which should be something that many fans did not expect before the start of the game. This is the second time in nearly 17 years that both sides have missed the playoffs at the same time, against the last time in the 17-18 season, when the Clippers ranked 10th in the West with 42 wins and 40 losses, and the Lakers ranked 11th in the West with 35 wins and 47 losses. At that time, the Lakers did not have James and thick eyebrows, and the Clippers did not have Leonard and Paul George.
You know, before the start of the season, both teams were given high hopes by the media. The Lakers' probability of making the playoffs is 98.4%, and it was once considered a championship hit. At the start of the game, although the Clippers faced the possibility of Leonard's season reimbursement, their probability of entering the playoffs was still as high as 75.5%. The Pelicans, on the other hand, who got their last playoff tickets, had only a 3.6 percent chance of making it into the playoffs before the start of the season, but now they've made it a reality through their own efforts and punched the media in the face.
The downturn of the Lakers and Clippers is inseparable from the fact that the two teams have been greatly affected by injuries.
On the Lakers' side, the team's star James, who is over 37 years old, has played 56 games this season and suffered a left ankle sprain in the second half of the season. Another core, Thick Brow, suffered a midfoot sprain and has only played 40 games this season. Although he made a comeback in the final stages of the season, he has been playing with injuries, his form has not recovered to 100%, and he cannot run at full strength on the field.
The Clippers' side has been affected by injuries even more. After undergoing cruciate ligament surgery last July, Leonard has been in the recovery phase for the entire season without playing. Paul George, who previously suffered an elbow injury and has only played 31 games this season, wanted to help the team hit the playoff spot in the final moments, but could not play because of the triggering of the health and safety agreement. The rest of the players like Morris Jr., Powell and other players have suffered different degrees of injuries.
For Los Angeles fans, it is undoubtedly a pity that the playoffs cannot see the Los Angeles team. But the big picture is set, and what the Lakers and Clippers can do is to recover from injuries in the offseason and make a comeback next season.
(Text/Yuwen Basketball)