First quarters normally do not go the Pelicans way, and that trend continued against the Clippers. Fueled by an opponent's 10-0 run and a dismal 38.1 FG%, New Orleans faced another double digit deficit following the end of the first frame. However, that theme sadly continued into the 2nd quarter, and the Clipper starters found a nice rhythm that was buoyed by a hot-shooting J.J. Redick.
Just before halftime, referees whistled a foul on Anthony Davis after Blake Griffin fell to the ground around midcourt and AD simply tripped over him. Griffin received free throws, Alvin Gentry picked up a technical, and to top things off, Ryan Anderson and Jrue Holiday got into foul trouble just moments earlier.