In this article, Clippers Escape New Orleans 126–124: Kawhi’s Midrange, Beal’s Return & The First Cup Begins, MyntJ recaps the Clippers win against the Pelicans and the road ahead. Felicia Enriquez, aka Mynt J, is the host of the podcast BlackLove and Basketball – Compton Edition. She is a Clippers fan, an NBA credentialed creator representing thePeachBasket.
INGLEWOOD, CA — On October 31, 2025, the LA Clippers walked out of the Intuit Dome with a two-point win and their first official NBA In-Season Tournament victory, 126–124 over the Pelicans. But this one wasn’t just a lucky bounce or a schedule boost. It was a layered performance:
- Kawhi Leonard showed the midrange still hits like a knockout punch.
- James Harden controlled the offense like a seasoned conductor.
- Bradley Beal’s return gave the Clippers structure.
- And John Collins quietly anchored the rotation with physical, efficient play.
Clippers Escape New Orleans – Kawhi’s Midrange Magic: Predictable… and Still Unstoppable
When you think of the best midrange shooters, Kawhi Leonard comes to mind. His ability to get to his spot and shoot with calmness and efficiency—it’s so good to see.
He doesn’t warm up with wild threes. He doesn’t dance into logo shots. He reps free throws and midrange jumpers until the form is robotic. That’s why when the game tightens, he doesn’t need heat—just a little space.
Midrange shots are hard to guard because they don’t live in one zip code. They can happen from anywhere inside the arc. And Kawhi has mastered every inch of that range.
The league has made three-pointers the most attractive shot, and Leonard still hit 5-of-8 from deep. But when the game was on the line, he wasn’t going to risk it.
With under five seconds left, Kawhi said he had more than enough time to get to his spot—and he did. No wasted movement. No panic. Just pump fake, soft touch, signature elbow jumper.
He even cracked a rare smile in postgame, calling it a “wet ball” in Mandarin: 湿球 (Shī qiú).
The midrange isn’t dead—it’s just being guarded by players who don’t know where it’s coming from. Kawhi finished with 34 points on 11-of-16 shooting, 5-of-8 from deep, along with 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 steals.
He also said he’s good to go for the upcoming back-to-back. The legs feel right. The shot looks cleaner than ever.
John Collins + Kawhi = Matchup Nightmare
Let’s not overthink this: Kawhi Leonard + John Collins = SIZE + STABILITY.
The Clippers only played John Collins and Kawhi Leonard together four times all game—twice in the 1st quarter and twice in the 3rd. But those moments? They mattered.
Collins’ numbers: 18 minutes, 14 points, 3 rebounds. Derrick Jones Jr.: 28 minutes, 16 points, 3 rebounds.
Jones brings verticality. Collins brings muscle—boxing out, second-chance points, and physical help defense.
This isn’t about who’s flashier. It’s about giving Kawhi a reliable frontcourt partner to build rhythm with. And with Nikola Jokic and Denver looming, it makes zero sense to wait on testing that pairing.
Lue hinted Collins could get his first start in that game. But why wait?
Harden’s Vision and Flow
Harden controlled the offense with 14 assists and brought his teammates into the game with friendly, intentional energy. He’s learning the roster and knows how important easy buckets are to players not getting volume shots.
“We have a long way to go,” Harden said. “We had some stints together, but kind of finding out I’m gonna be with the second unit a little bit more. Obviously, [John Collins] can post up, he’s really good in the corner for three, so just finding him ways to get him easy buckets… If you get easy buckets you’re just confident.”
That was Harden all night—running the show, spreading the ball, and playing like a vet who knows this is a marathon.
Ty Lue’s Rotation Puzzle: 10 Lineups Later…
Ty Lue admitted he had to burn two timeouts in the 1st quarter because guys weren’t clear on roles. That’s one problem.
Here’s the bigger one: He used 10 different lineups throughout the game—and only one truly worked.
The Harden / Beal / Kawhi / DJJ / Zubac unit opened the game, dominated the second quarter, and closed out the 3rd.
That 2nd quarter group dropped 41 points and played with rhythm. Harden was in control. Beal provided structure. Kawhi had options. Zubac anchored the paint.
Then the 4th quarter hit.
Beal didn’t play due to his minutes restriction. The Pelicans gained momentum and outscored the Clippers 40–32, tying the game at 124.
Ty Lue turned to Kris Dunn and Nicolas Batum in the closing stretch, while the Pelicans shot 60% from the field and 60% from three in the 4th quarter.
“Just some breakdowns defensively,” Lue said postgame. “Stack hurt us all night. Not being able to get back out to the shooter that was slipping out… and then offensively, just taking care of the basketball. Not turning the ball over so they can get out in transition.”
The Clippers only committed 12 turnovers, but several were sloppy—and the Pelicans capitalized.
Bradley Beal’s Return: Quiet, But Crucial
Beal played 21 minutes under a restriction but gave the Clippers balance. He finished with 9 points (3-of-8 FG, 1-of-2 3PT) and 2 assists.
His shot wasn’t the story—his poise was. The offense had better flow with him in the game.
“Yeah. I’m a perfectionist, man,” Beal said postgame. “I hate missing shots. I hate not playing well. There’s only so much I can do. I have to show myself a little grace too… My rhythm will come.”
It already looked like it was starting.
Next Up: Miami, Norman Powell, and a Size Test
Miami comes to town Monday on a back-to-back after facing the Lakers Sunday. Former Clipper Norman Powell played for parts of four seasons (2022–25), averaging 17.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 28.1 minutes in 201 games (73 starts).
Now with Miami, he’s averaging 24 points over his last three games—and will be plenty motivated to show out in L.A. if he’s cleared to play (DNP in last two games).
Bam Adebayo will also be a challenge. He’s listed at 6’9″ and 260 pounds. Derrick Jones Jr. gives up size (6’6″, 210 lbs), but Collins (6’9″, 226 lbs) could be the answer.
Then Comes OKC… and Denver
The Clippers play Oklahoma City on a back to back on Tuesday November 4th and they are currently 6-0 and defending 2025 NBA Champions, their pace and youth will test the Clippers’ defense and discipline.
Then comes Denver, with Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, and company—the defending 2023 NBA champions on November 12th and that matchup may tell us everything about how John Collins holds up against elite frontcourts.
Final Word
The Clippers didn’t dominate—but they figured some things out:
- Kawhi’s midrange is still elite.
- Beal fits like a glove when healthy.
- Harden is building chemistry and leadership.
- Collins deserves more time with the starters.
And Ty Lue? He needs to commit to what works.
This team is too deep, too experienced, and too close to peak form to keep experimenting.
It’s time to start controlling games—not just escaping them.
