Clippers beat Pelicans to end 7-game losing streak

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Darius Garland had 24 points and 10 assists, Brook Lopez added 20 points and the Los Angeles Clippers ended a seven-game losing streak with a 139-123 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night.

Gradey Dick and rookie Keaton Wagler each scored 15 points and Rui Hachimura added 14 as the Clippers won for the first time since getting past the Sacramento Kings in the season opener.

The Clippers went on a 15-6 run to open the fourth quarter to take control with a 117-101 lead and finished off the victory after failing to hold on to double-digit fourth-quarter leads in their previous two games.

Trey Murphy III scored 26 points, while Zion Williamson and Jeremiah Fears each added 25 as the Pelicans lost their second consecutive game following a four-game winning streak. Saddiq Bey had 13 points for New Orleans, which was playing the opener of a two-game California trip.

The Pelicans shot 50.6% from the floor while getting held to 52 points in the paint after entering the with 61.6 per game in that department to lead the NBA.

The Clippers took a 124-107 lead with 4:56 remaining on three free throws from Garland and cruised to the victory from there with a season high in points. Los Angeles shot a season-best 54.8% from the floor.

The Clippers led 67-60 at halftime after shooting 52.3% from the floor and getting 14 points from Garland, while Williamson had 17 points for the Pelicans. New Orleans opened the second half on an 18-10 run to take their first lead since the opening minute at 78-77.

Los Angeles was without center Isaiah Jackson (groin), as well as former Pelicans star Brandon Ingram (heel), who is close to his debut for his new team.

Pelicans: At Golden State on Monday night.

Clippers: At Phoenix on Tuesday night.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen (22) is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers guard Keaton Wagler (1) as forward Baba Miller (18) helps on defense during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears (0) is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III drives against Los Angeles Clippers center Brook Lopez (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears (0) is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr., left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, left, drives to the basket against Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won the toss and elected to bowl first Monday in the first cricket test against a new-look Pakistan lineup containing four players on debut.

Arafat Minhas, a spinning allrounder and player of the recent triangular ODI series, fast bowler Saqib Khan and top-order batters Tayyab Arif and Mohammad Taha were all on debut for the hosts.

Last-place Pakistan has won only two of the nine matches in this World Test Championship cycle that included its chaotic 3-0 loss in England in the last series and a 2-0 drubbing at the hands of Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka is ranked No. 7 in the WTC standings, winning just one of its six test matches while drawing three and losing two.

Mendis, who replaced Dhananjaya de Silva as test skipper in October, hoped his trio of fast bowlers will utilize the tinge of grass left on the wicket against an inexperienced Pakistan top-order as the tourists left out their front-line spinner Prabath Jayasuriya.

Sri Lanka has a recent happy memory at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium where it achieved the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history — 430 against England in the tri-series last month.

Veteran Mohammad Abbas will lead Pakistan’s pace attack with express fast bowler Razaullah and Saqib. The home team also went without a specialist spinner.

Sri Lanka has been in Pakistan for more than a month, losing the T20 series 2-1 and the final of ODI tri-series to Pakistan.

Lineups:

Pakistan: Azan Awais, Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Babar Azam (captain), Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Ghazi Ghori, Arafat Minhas, Razaullah, Mohammad Abbas, Saqib Khan.

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis (captain), Lahiru Udara, Pasindu Sooryabandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sonal Dinusha, Milan Rathnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka

See AP’s full cricket coverage here

Ground staff gives final touches to pitch prepare for the first test cricket matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)