Clippers Vs Pelicans: Final Injury Report Raises Late Questions on Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland
clippers vs pelicans is set for Wednesday night, March 18, 2026, with both teams entering the matchup facing key injury decisions. The Los Angeles Clippers will be on the road in New Orleans for a Western Conference meeting, and the availability of multiple names remains unresolved heading into game time. The biggest late focus is whether Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland can go, as New Orleans also monitors Dejounte Murray’s status.
What the final injury report says ahead of Clippers Vs Pelicans
Los Angeles listed five players on its injury report for the March 18 game at New Orleans, including Leonard and Garland as questionable. Leonard is questionable with a left ankle sprain and is in danger of missing his second consecutive contest. Garland is questionable due to left toe injury management, and the team may elect to sit him on the first night of a back-to-back.
The Clippers also ruled out three players: Bradley Beal (left hip fracture), Bennedict Mathurin (right toe injury recovery), and Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (right Lisfranc ligament tear). Mathurin is set to miss the team’s three-game road trip, while Beal and Niederhäuser are both set to miss the remainder of the season.
For New Orleans, two players were listed on the injury report. Dejounte Murray is questionable due to an illness and is in danger of missing his second straight game. Bryce McGowens (toe fracture) is out for the matchup.
Where both teams stand entering Wednesday night
The Clippers enter Wednesday’s game with a 30-32 record after a road loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. In that loss, Garland led Los Angeles with 25 points and 10 assists, while Jordan Miller added 22 points, nine rebounds, and three assists off the bench.
New Orleans enters Wednesday’s contest with a 23-46 record after defeating the Dallas Mavericks at home on Monday night. Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 27 points and four rebounds, and Saddiq Bey added 23 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
The Wednesday meeting comes with both teams trying to stack momentum in different ways: Los Angeles aims to bounce back after Monday’s defeat, while New Orleans looks to build after a home win.
Immediate reactions from injury updates and what roles could change
Justin Russo, who posted the Clippers’ March 18 injury report, listed both Leonard and Garland as questionable and confirmed the three outs for Los Angeles. That report also included the status details for Beal, Mathurin, and Niederhäuser.
On the Pelicans’ side, Law Murray posted that Bryce McGowens is out and that Dejounte Murray is questionable, while also noting that Zion Williamson will play after missing March 1 at LA.
If Leonard is sidelined once again, Derrick Jones Jr. and John Collin could both continue to have increased roles, as noted in the injury-report breakdown tied to the March 18 availability questions.
Quick context
Both squads enter the night with multiple names on injury reports, adding uncertainty to rotations and late-game options. That uncertainty is especially concentrated around the questionable tags for Leonard, Garland, and Dejounte Murray.
What’s next as clippers vs pelicans approaches tipoff
With clippers vs pelicans arriving Wednesday night, the next developments hinge on final pregame determinations for Leonard and Garland, along with New Orleans’ call on Dejounte Murray. Expect clarity closer to tipoff as both teams finalize active lineups for March 18, 2026, and adjust roles based on who is available.
