Pelicans show fight against Clippers, but Kawhi Leonard’s buzzer beater keeps Pels winless

“Even through a difficult loss, the response we all saw tonight is a group that is learning each other and coming together,” Green said. “But they care. They went out and competed at a high level and gave everything they got.” 

Poole, who came off the bench for the second straight game, led the Pelicans with 30 points. He knocked down 7 of 13 3-pointers.

“Jordan was great,” Green said. “It’s a tough adjustment for him (coming off the bench). We are all aware of that. He’s such a dynamic player. What he does for our second unit is he’s the hub.”

The Pelicans trailed by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, which included a drought where they went over six minutes without a field goal. After Murphy buried a 3-pointer with 8:39 left in the quarter, the Pels didn’t make another field goal until Poole’s trey with 1:52 left. The Pelicans ended up closing the quarter out on a 9-2 run to pull within 10 (94-84) headed to the fourth quarter.