Pelicans punch ticket to playoffs with win over Clippers

The New Orleans Pelicans are headed back to the postseason.

With a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night at Staples Center, New Orleans became the seventh team to clinch a berth in the Western Conference playoff bracket.

This marks the franchise's first appearance since 2015 when it was swept in the opening round by the Golden State Warriors.

The final spot will be filled by either the Minnesota Timberwolves or Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.

Losing All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins to a season-ending Achilles injury in late January seemed to be the final nail in the coffin for New Orleans, and the team would go on to drop five of its next six games at the time. However, the Pelicans responded with a 10-game winning streak from Feb. 10 through March 7 which may have saved their year.