A look at three key numbers related to Thursday’s game at the Smoothie King Center between the LA Clippers and New Orleans (7 p.m. Central, Fox Sports New Orleans, ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM):
5, 9: New Orleans rank among the 30 teams in points scored per game (117.0) and the Clippers’ rank in points allowed per game (106.5), respectively. When the Pelicans have the ball Thursday, it’s a matchup of strength vs. strength, as New Orleans has repeatedly piled up the points early in 2019-20, while LA features one of the best defensive lineups in the NBA, including Kawhi Leonard, Patrick Beverley and Paul George, the latter expected to make his season debut in this Western Conference meeting.