For more than three quarters the New Orleans Pelicans battled the Sacramento Kings in a game that featured 13 lead changes and a dozen ties, but once again, the Pelicans couldn’t close the deal. With just over five minutes to play, rookie Antonio Reeves drilled a corner three to cut Sacramento’s lead to 104-102, giving the Pelicans a chance to steal a much-needed win.
Instead, Zach LaVine responded with a three-pointer of his own that sparked an 11-2 run by the Kings to put the game out of reach. New Orleans couldn’t get enough stops or buckets down the stretch as DeMar DeRozan’s turnaround jumper with 1:45 left sealed a 119-111 victory for Sacramento, handing the Pelicans their 10th straight loss.
New Orleans outscored Sacramento 70-40 in the paint, but the Kings made up for it by beating the Pelicans in points on three-pointers (48-24) and by building an advantage at the free-throw line, where they outscored New Orleans 21-15.
The Pelicans also lost the rebounding battle, as the Kings took advantage of their size and physicality inside. Domantas Sabonis, as usual, was a force on the glass, collecting his 48th double-double of the season with 16 points and 15 rebounds. His presence, combined with the Kings’ perimeter shooting, proved to be too much for a Pelicans defense that has sunk to its lowest levels in recent weeks. New Orleans has allowed opponents to score at least 118 points in nine of its last 10 games.
That defensive burden has put plenty of pressure on the New Orleans offense. Against Sacramento, the Pelicans actually executed well in several areas, shooting 47% from the field and committing only nine turnovers. Sacramento just made more plays in crunch time. After losing five straight to the Pels, the Kings have now won all three games this season, with each coming down to the final minutes.
“It’s tough, it’s really tough”, Williamson said after the game about the frustrations of a 12-42 season. “We had a lot of things not go our way, but all you can do is make the most of the situation you’re in, but it’s tough.”
The Pelicans won’t have to wait long for a shot at revenge, as they face the Kings again on Thursday in their final game before the All-Star break. It’s their last chance to avoid a season sweep at the hands of Sacramento, a team they dominated last year. Until they can clean up their perimeter defense and execute in the final minutes, the Pelicans will continue to come up short.
For more content, visit HITP Sports on YouTube or HITP Sports online.
READ MORE
- Pelicans host Kings hoping to avoid 10-game skid
- Pelicans struggle as Thunder set franchise record for threes in blowout loss
- Pelicans face red-hot Thunder looking to snap 8-game losing streak
- Can undermanned Pelicans end road losing skid in Sacramento?
- Porter, Jokic, too much to handle as Pelicans fall to Nuggets, 144-119
- Report: Pelicans trade Brandon Ingram to Raptors
- Pelicans seek to tie season series tonight vs. Nuggets
- Deal or no deal: It’s time for Pelicans to trade Brandon Ingram
- Murphy’s 41 not enough as Pelicans drop 6th consecutive game
- Injuries, trade rumors, tough road ahead for Pelicans
- Another Tough Loss, Another Brutal Injury for the Pelicans
- Pelicans buried under avalanche of threes, fall to Mavericks for fourth straight loss
- Pelicans host Mavericks aiming to snap three-game losing streak
- Pelicans fall to Raptors as frustrations boil over in tough road loss
- Pelicans look to salvage road trip in Toronto
- Bounce-back battle in Charlotte as Pelicans visit Hornets
- Second-half collapse ends Pelicans’ win streak in Memphis
- Pelicans look to extend 3-game winning streak with repeat performance against Jazz
- Pelicans soar past Jazz behind Zion’s double-double and hot shooting from deep
- Surging Pelicans look to leapfrog Jazz in the West
- Zion Williamson out as Pelicans host reeling Mavericks
- Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson lead Pelicans past Bulls to close 2-1 road trip
- Pelicans visit Bulls with season sweep, winning road trip on the line
- Murphy’s 30, Zion’s return not enough as Pelicans lose heartbreaker to Celtics
- Zion, Murphy return for Pelicans’ battle with Celtics
- With Zion suspended, CJ McCollum’s 38-point explosion leads Pelicans past 76ers
- Zion Williamson’s latest misstep results in one-game suspension
