Pelicans narrowly edge George-less Clippers to secure final playoff seed in Western Conference

Brandon Ingram scored 30 points and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the depleted Los Angeles Clippers 105-101 in a play-in Friday night and earn the West's No. 8 seed for the playoffs.

The Clippers were dealt a huge blow earlier in the day when Paul George entered the league's health and safety protocols. They'd already been without Kawhi Leonard all season while he rehabbed an ACL injury. He watched from the bench early in the game.

CJ McCollum added 19 points for New Orleans, which will play No. 1 seed Phoenix in the first round. Game 1 is Sunday in the desert.

THREE BALL FOR CJ !! <a href="https://t.co/G8j0ZZJUsY">pic.twitter.com/G8j0ZZJUsY</a>

Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson each had 27 points for the Clippers.

The Pelicans shot 57 per cent in the first half and were better on the boards, in the paint and off the bench. They led by 16 in the second quarter before the Clippers cut their deficit to 56-46 at halftime.

The Clippers roared back in the third, outscoring the Pelicans 38-18. They opened with a 20-2 run that had the crowd on its feet. Jackson scored 10 points and Morris added six in the spurt.

Ingram scored five of the Pelicans' final 12 points to send them into the fourth trailing 84-74.

That's when New Orleans staged a rally of its own.

After the Clippers scored to go up by 13 points, the Pelicans ran off 11 straight points and then McCollum hit a three-pointer to tie it, 88-all.

Rookie Trey Murphy hit his second three-pointer of the quarter for another tie at 94-all.

Trey for 3!<br><br>Trey Murphy TIES IT UP for the <a href="https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PelicansNBA</a><br><br>4:38 remaining in the <a