TYRONN LUE

The New Orleans Pelicans have hired Phoenix Suns assistant Willie Green as their new head coach.

A person familiar with the situation says the New Orleans Pelicans are negotiating with Suns assistant Willie Green about taking over as head coach but no deal is in place and discussions could extend beyond the NBA Finals.

They recovered from 0-2 deficits against Dallas and Utah to reach the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history. Much of their resilience can be credited to Tyronn Lue, who is a NBA-best 10-2 in elimination games as a coach. LA is likely to be without two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, who has been out with a right knee sprain. In 12 postseason appearances, he's made the conference finals twice and lost in the first round six times. Ayton's two best performances against the Clippers came in Games 1 and 2, when he scored 20 or more points.

The Los Angeles Clippers have been unflappable amid high stakes throughout these NBA playoffs.

Clippers Suns Basketball Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George (13) passes as Phoenix Suns forward Cameron Johnson (23) looks on during the first half of game 5 of the NBA basketball Western Conference Finals, Monday, June 28, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) (Matt York)PHOENIX — (AP) — Paul George had just wrapped up his brilliant night, scoring 41 points to keep the Los Angeles Clippers' season alive. “Bleep this and bleep that.”George set his playoff career high in scoring, Reggie Jackson added 23 and the feisty Clippers staved off elimination by beating the Phoenix Suns 116-102 on Monday night in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. “It is just unacceptable the way we started the game,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. The Suns cut the advantage to 44-42 midway through the second but the Clippers rallied again to push ahead by 10.

Paul George scored 41 points, Reggie Jackson added 23 and the resilient Los Angeles Clippers staved off elimination by beating the Phoenix Suns 116-102 in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.

Deandre Ayton is rapidly become the player the Phoenix Suns imagined when the ping-pong balls bounced their way for the 2018 NBA draft.

The Athletic reported that Billups had accepted the job but contract negotiations were ongoing. Billups, the 2004 NBA Finals MVP and a five-time NBA All-Star over a 17-year playing career, has never been a head coach. The Blazers were also interested in Brooklyn Nets assistant Mike D’Antoni, as well as San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon. Los Angeles Lakers assistant Jason Kidd withdrew his name from consideration after it was reported that Blazers guard Damian Lillard had endorsed him for the job. Billups, 44, was hired as an assistant under Clippers coach Tyronn Lue last November.

It's not simply the Los Angeles Clippers vs.

Clippers Suns Basketball Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) celebrates near the end of the second half of Game 1 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals as Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann, right, looks on Sunday, June 20, 2021, in Phoenix. Booker had 40 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career triple-double and the Phoenix Suns overcame Chris Paul's absence to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 120-114 on Sunday in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Booker scored 18 points in the quarter, and George had 15, including a 3-pointer that tied it at 93 heading to the fourth. Booker scored 12 points — mostly on mid-range jumpers — in the final 3:09 of the third to get Phoenix back on track. Suns: Paul and forward Abdel Nader (right knee arthroscopy) didn't play.

Devin Booker had 40 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career triple-double and the Phoenix Suns overcame Chris Paul’s absence to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 120-114 on Sunday in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

The Suns and Clippers meet in Game 1 on Sunday in Phoenix with the status of some of their most important pieces in doubt. “You've just got to have a mentality of next man up,” Suns forward Jae Crowder said. Suns coach Monty Williams said Paul's situation was “day-to-day” and didn't elaborate on his Game 1 status. The 6-foot-5 Mann, who can play guard and forward, is not afraid to drive to the basket but also possesses a strong perimeter shooting game. I mean, you just saw so many flashes of so many different things,” Clippers forward Paul George said.

The Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers are still playing basketball deep into these NBA playoffs partly because they’ve learned to persevere in clutch moments without their biggest stars.

Jazz Clippers Basketball Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard holds his knee after stepping awkwardly during the second half in Game 4 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Utah Jazz Monday, June 14, 2021, in Los Angeles. Leonard sprained his right knee Monday night in a Game 4 win. He traveled with the Clippers to Salt Lake City, Lue said, then returned to Los Angeles for further testing. Despite missing Leonard, LA took a 3-2 series lead on Wednesday night with a 119-111 victory behind 37 points from Paul George. The Jazz need a victory on Friday to send it back to Salt Lake City for Game 7 on Sunday.

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is officially out for Friday night’s Game 6 of the Western Conference second-round series against the Utah Jazz, but coach Tyronn Lue did not have any update on if it will be longer.

Jazz Clippers Basketball Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard holds his knee after stepping awkwardly during the second half in Game 4 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Utah Jazz Monday, June 14, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (Mark J. Terrill)Kawhi Leonard's right knee is now a major concern for the Los Angeles Clippers. The All-NBA forward sat out Los Angeles' 119-111 Game 5 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night with what the Clippers are calling a sprain. Leonard traveled with the Clippers to Salt Lake City, Lue said, then returned to Los Angeles. “I don’t care about the Western Conference Finals," Leonard said after Game 4 of the series against the Jazz.

Kawhi Leonard’s right knee is now a major concern for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kawhi Leonard had 34 points and 12 rebounds, Paul George added 31 points and the Los Angeles Clippers got back into their second-round series against the Utah Jazz with a 132-106 victory in Game 3 on Saturday night.

The Los Angeles Clippers find themselves in familiar territory — down 2-0 in their second straight playoff series and seeing one player outplay their two superstars.

Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points, Marcus Morris added 23 and the Los Angeles Clippers finally won at home, finishing off the Dallas Mavericks 126-111 on Sunday in Game 7 of the first-round playoff series.

Clippers Mavericks Basketball Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard dunks in the first half in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers in Dallas, Sunday, May 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) (Tony Gutierrez)DALLAS — (AP) — Kawhi Leonard and Paul George combined to carry Los Angeles on the road again, and the Clippers are back in control of their first-round series with Dallas. After entering the game shooting 51% from 3-point range in the series, the Mavericks were just 5 of 30 (17%). Behind 35 first-half points combined from Leonard and George, the Clippers built a 61-45 lead. Then LA scored the first eight points of the second half to get the lead beyond 20 for the first time and didn't look back.

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have combined to carry Los Angeles on the road again, and the Clippers are back in control of the first-round series with Dallas.

Luka Doncic scored 31 points and the Dallas Mavericks outshot the NBA’s leading team from 3-point range, beating the Los Angeles Clippers 113-103 on Saturday in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series.

Paul George scored 33 points, Kawhi Leonard added 27 and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Phoenix Suns 113-103 on Thursday night in a matchup of two of the top teams in the Western Conference.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends against Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in New York. The Los Angeles Clippers left Brooklyn impressed — and eager for another shot at the Nets. Irving scored a season-high 39 points, including eight straight in the fourth-quarter run that sent Brooklyn into the lead for good, and the Nets beat the Clippers 124-120 on Tuesday night. Durant added 28 points, Harden had 23 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds, and the three stars scored all the points in the decisive 13-0 spurt. Nets: Brooklyn had scored 30 or more points in nine straight quarters before being held to 24 in the first.

(AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)Another three NBA games were postponed Friday, including one in Minnesota only a couple hours before game time, as the league's struggle with increasing coronavirus numbers continued. The Timberwolves' game with the Memphis Grizzlies was called off, as were what would have been Wizards' home games Sunday and Monday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Washington has seen four of its games pushed back, Boston and Phoenix have had three postponements. The NBA said earlier this week that 16 players tested positive in recent days, which was more than the NBA had seen in the last five weeks combined. The NBA gave Orlando coach Steve Clifford a call recently, telling him he had to do a better job of keeping his mask on during games.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is helped off the court after suffering an injury during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Dec. 25, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)LOS ANGELES – Kawhi Leonard won’t play for the Los Angeles Clippers against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Leonard was bleeding heavily when he left the court in the fourth quarter. Leonard was replaced in Sunday’s lineup by Luke Kennard for the Clippers' home opener at Staples Center. ___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)DENVER – Kawhi Leonard was hurt and the Denver Nuggets were mounting a rally like they did three months ago. Leonard had 21 points before taking an elbow to the face in the fourth quarter, Paul George scored 23 points and had nine assists, and Los Angeles beat the Nuggets 121-108 on Friday night. It was the second straight big win for LA, which beat the Lakers on Tuesday night. SCROOGED AGAINDenver was playing on Christmas night for the second straight season, with both ending in double-digit losses. Last year the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Nuggets 112-100 in Denver, stopping a seven-game winning streak.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, is defended by Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)LOS ANGELES – After the Los Angeles Lakers got their championship rings, the Los Angeles Clippers gave a performance that showed this retooled team is determined to contend for its own jewelry several months from now. Paul George scored 26 of his 33 points in the second half, Kawhi Leonard added 26 points and the Los Angeles Clippers rallied past the Los Angeles Lakers on the NBA champions’ ring ceremony night for a 116-109 victory Tuesday. The Clippers beat the Lakers in the season opener for the second straight year while winning coach Tyronn Lue’s debut. Lakers: James believes he will be fine to play on Christmas, saying he'll get extensive treatment.

Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford talks to players during a timeout in the first half of the team's NBA preseason basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, in Atlanta. The NBA preseason — a truncated 49-game, nine-day sprint — opened Friday with a five-game slate, action returning to NBA arenas for the first time in exactly nine months. 8 pick Obi Toppin of the Knicks, got their first NBA minutes. Paul George had 10 for the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard managed three in 14 minutes. Both teams shot exactly 30 for 84 from the field, and none of the Clippers' starters logged even 15 minutes.

FILE - Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George drives against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, in this March 1, 2020, file photo. Paul George wants to retire with the Los Angeles Clippers, and he took a step in that direction by signing a multi-year contract extension on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)LOS ANGELES – Paul George wants to retire with the Los Angeles Clippers, and he took a step in that direction by signing a multiyear contract extension Thursday. Instead, the team locked down his services, ensuring George will remain not far from where he grew up in Palmdale. “As a kid growing up in Southern California, I always dreamed of playing in Los Angeles, where my friends and family could come watch me play,” he said.

FILE - In this Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue gestures during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, in Detroit. Tyronn Lue has agreed in principle to become the next coach of the Los Angeles Clippers. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday confirmed their hiring of Tyronn Lue to replace Doc Rivers as coach. Rivers coached the Clippers for the last seven seasons and is now guiding the Philadelphia 76ers. Lue, who won two NBA championships as a player with the Los Angeles Lakers, went 128-83 in parts of four seasons as Cavs coach.