Chris Paul (hamstring), DeAndre Jordan (car accident) play vs. Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS -- L.A. Clipperspoint guardChris Pauland center DeAndre Jordanwere in the lineup for Wednesday night's 102-98 loss to the Pelicans.

Paul returned after missing the past three games with a left hamstring injury. The Clippers had been 0-3 without Paul and have lost four straight. He finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes.

Jordan's availability came one day after he was involved in a car accident in Playa del Rey, California, en route to catching the team's flight to New Orleans. He had a bandage on his left forearm but otherwise emerged unscathed.

"I feel all right," Jordan said. "I'm playing tonight, so that's good. We can't afford for anybody else to be out.

"I'm just very fortunate that I'm OK and that everybody else that was involved was OK."

His vehicle didn't have the same luck.

"I won't be seeing that car ever again," Jordan said.

Paul was seen at the accident site, but Jordan confirmed that the point guard was not involved. Paul was close by when the accident happened and arrived with team staff to give Jordan a ride to the airport, the Clippers said.

"I think people are just taking the State Farm thing too serious," Jordan said about the presence of Paul, a fellow insurance company pitch man.

Jordan said he was in a car accident once before, in high school, with former NBA guard Donald Sloan riding alongside him. That didn't make this one any easier.

"It was scary," Jordan said. "I was like, 'Doc [Rivers] is going to be pissed. I'm late to the flight.' But like I said, I'm lucky, man. I'm just glad everybody's OK."

After a 10-point, 11-rebound first quarter Wednesday, Jordan finished with 13 points and 25 rebounds in the loss.

J.J. Redickmissed his second straight game because of a sore left hamstring.

"He did shooting and running and looked pretty good, but he just didn't feel great," Rivers said. "I would say there's a better chance, obviously against Houston [on Friday]."

Wesley Johnsonand Luc Mbah a Moute got the start in the frontcourt next to Jordan.

Blake Griffinwas out after undergoing right knee surgery on Dec. 20.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne contributed to this report.