The New Orleans Pelicans will look to avoid heading into the All-Star break on an 11-game losing streak when they face the Sacramento Kings for the second time in as many nights and the final time this season. The Pelicans are winless against the Kings this season, a major reversal from a year ago when New Orleans beat Sacramento six times, with four coming by double digits.
The Kings won the first half of this back-to-back in The Blender 119-111. Meanwhile, Pelicans fans are trying to find a reason to believe things will improve when they return from the break.
Wednesday’s loss wasn’t without its bright spots for New Orleans. Trey Murphy III continued his impressive scoring run, just missing out on his seventh straight 20-point game with 19. Jose Alvarado had one of his best performances of the season with 18 points and nine assists.
They’ll need to come up big for New Orleans tonight, especially with Zion Williamson sitting this one out per team injury management guidelines. That puts even more pressure on Murphy and CJ McCollum to carry the offensive load.
On the other side, Sacramento will continue to lean on Domantas Sabonis, who has dominated New Orleans all season. The Kings’ big man is averaging 25 points and 17 rebounds against the Pelicans this year. DeMar DeRozan has also had lots of success against the Pelicans, posting averages of 26.3 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.5 boards over his last 10 games against them. And then there’s Zach LaVine, who, after struggling against New Orleans earlier in the season as a member of the Bulls, has been a key factor with 45 points for the Kings in their last two wins over the Pels.
For New Orleans, this game is about pride. The season has spiraled out of control, injuries have piled up, and the roster is depleted. But heading into the break on an 11-game skid, with no guarantee things will improve afterward, is a tough pill to swallow. The Kings have already won the season series, but the Pelicans have a chance to show some fight and avoid being swept by Sacramento for the first time in two decades.
Most Recent Starting Lineups
| Sacramento Kings | New Orleans Pelicans |
| G – Malik Monk | G – Jose Alvarado |
| G – Zach LaVine | G – CJ McCollum |
| F – DeMar DeRozan | F – Trey Murphy |
| F – Keegan Murray | F – Zion Williamson |
| C – Domantas Sabonis | C – Yves Missi |
Injuries
Sacramento Kings: None reported
New Orleans Pelicans: Brandon Boston (left ankle sprain), Jamal Cain (illness), Herb Jones (right shoulder torn rotator cuff), Dejounte Murray (right Achilles rupture), Kelly Olynyk (not with team), and Zion Williamson (return to play conditioning) are OUT.
Who: New Orleans Pelicans (12-42) vs Sacramento Kings (28-26)
Season Series:
- Dec. 12: Kings def. Pelicans, 111-109
- Feb. 8: Kings def. Pelicans, 123-118
- Feb. 12: Kings def. Pelicans, 119-111
- Feb. 13: Pelicans vs. Kings
Series History: The New Orleans Pelicans are 44-36 all-time against the Sacramento Kings Thunder and have lost three consecutive games to them.
Where: Smoothie King Center
When: Feb. 13, 7:00 PM CST
Where to watch: Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network, Pelicans+
Where to listen: WWL Radio 870 AM
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