The Los Angeles Clippers play host to the New Orleans Pelicans at Staples Center on Wednesday.

The Pelicans (4-5) were supposed to play on Monday but their matchup with the Dallas Mavericks got postponed because of COVID protocols. That was a game that New Orleans was looking forward to too, in desperate need to snap their three-game losing streak. What makes that losing slide even more frustrating is the fact that they all came down to the wire, with the Pelicans blowing fourth-quarter leads in two of them. It's not like they were tough teams either, losing the last two against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets. This team has too much talent to lose to clubs like that and it's clear the Pelicans have some things to figure out. The biggest is what to do with their backcourt because Lonzo Ball and Eric Bledsoe have been struggling mightily. Those guys are way too good to have the ugly numbers that they do and a little help on the offensive end could be just what the doctor ordered to end their slump.

The Clippers (7-4) enter this matchup trading off wins and losses in their last seven games, pulling out a 130-127 win over the Chicago Bulls in their most recent outing. That sort of stretch is pretty disappointing from a team like this though, winning by seven points or fewer in the three most recent victories. The one thing that's keeping them from being elite is their defense. Los Angeles currently ranks 16th in points allowed and dead-last in rebounding which is simply unacceptable from such a talented team. This team is full of elite defenders and it's just a matter of time before things change on that end of the floor. If that does happen, they're in a great spot considering Los Angeles has the best three-point and free-throw percentages in the NBA. That's a recipe for success and a lengthy winning streak is right around the corner if that continues.

Los Angeles dominated the four-game season series over New Orleans last year, winning three of four by an average of 17 points per game.