ESPN Analyst Picks Pelicans to Upset Clippers
ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler picks the New Orleans Pelicans to upset the Los Angeles Clippers on the road for the final Western Conference Play-In Tournament game.
While previewing the Play-In matchups, Legler believes "CJ McCollum is built for this stage. Every time I think of CJ McCollum in a pressure game, I think of what he did in a Game-7 at Denver a few years ago when Damian Leonard really struggled." He added, "He loves the prime time. I'm going to go with the upset and take the Pelicans."
Apr 3, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George (13) moves the ball against New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN has the Clippers at a 63% BPI over the Pelicans. Clippers star Paul George is out of the game after testing positive for COVID-19. The news isn't good for the Clippers, who are 24-27 without George on the hardwood this past regular season. Coach Lue and his team will miss his scoring leader's 24.3 PPG.
The winner becomes the No. 8 seed and advances to meet the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the Western Conference NBA Playoffs.
Los Angeles' Luke Kennard is questionable for a sore right hamstring, and Kawhi Leonard and Jason Preston are out of the contest with injuries.
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