Los Angeles @ New Orleans preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 14, 2019 ) New Orleans 121, L.A. Clippers 117

Standout forward Paul George is expected to make his franchise debut when the Los Angeles Clippers visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday. George underwent offseason surgery on both shoulders and was later acquired by the Clippers from the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the package to entice free agent Kawhi Leonard to sign with the club.

Leonard will probably sit out the second contest of a back-to-back after recording 26 points and 12 rebounds in Wednesday's 102-93 loss to the Houston Rockets while Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers ponders how best to incorporate George. "You just take the talent. You know no matter what, you can run a play for Paul George," Rivers told reporters. "No matter what, you can run something for Kawhi. What I don't know is the rotations, the lineups that we can throw out on the floor." As New Orleans waits for rookie forward Zion Williamson (knee) to get healthy, the team will be without point guard Lonzo Ball (groin) for the third straight game as well as shooting guard Josh Hart (knee) on Thursday with small forward Brandon Ingram (knee) viewed as a game-time decision by coach Alvin Gentry. "There is a possibility he could play, but it's one of those deals where we won't know until he shows up (Thursday) works out and sees where he is," Gentry said of Ingram, who missed Monday's 122-116 loss to the Houston Rockets.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FS New Orleans

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (7-4): Los Angeles trailed by 16 points after one quarter, shot 38.8 percent from the field and had no answers on how to stop James Harden (47 points) while dropping the opener of the two-game road swing. "We're not shooting the ball well, which I'm not that concerned by, we're going to make shots," Rivers told reporters afterward. "I just don't like how we're not moving the ball well, we're not playing with any pace and we really weren't executing on both ends." Backup power forward Montrezl Harrell was one of the culprits on the offense end as he scored a season-low four points on 2-of-12 shooting.

ABOUT THE PELICANS (2-8): Ingram underwent an MRI exam earlier this week and no significant damage was detected, so the 22-year-old who is averaging 25.9 points is expecting a swift recovery. "I feel good; I'm just continuing to listen to the trainers and the doctors, trying to come in and see how I feel each and every day," Ingram told reporters after missing practice on Wednesday. "It's nothing big, nothing major, but I'm just taking it day by day. Hopefully it can continue to progress." Post player Jahlil Okafor (ankle) is also listed as questionable and he scored 14 points in 16 minutes against the Rockets before being injured.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Pelicans went 2-1 against the Clippers last season and have won six of the past eight meetings.

2. Los Angeles SG Lou Williams scored 20 points against Houston and is averaging 25.3 points over the past four contests.

3. New Orleans SG JJ Redick is averaging 23 points over the past two games and is 12-of-24 from 3-point range during the span.

PREDICTION: Clippers 107, Pelicans 101