Kings gameday live: Sacramento remains unbeaten on the road with close win over Pelicans
Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Smoothie King Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sports 1140 KHTK
Odds: Kings -1.5
Over/under: 220
Morning injury report
Kings: OUT — Louis King (G League); Neemias Queta (G League); Jahmi’us Ramsey (G League); Robert Woodard II (G League).
Pelicans: QUESTIONABLE — Josh Hart (quadriceps). DOUBTFUL — Garrett Temple (ankle). OUT — Zion Williamson (foot).
Ingram, Valanciunas present challenges
The Kings will have one less problem against the New Orleans Pelicans with Zion Williamson still sidelined due to injury, but they will still face an early-season test when they go into Smoothie King Center on Friday night.
Head-to-head matchups between Sacramento and New Orleans have taken on more meaning over the past two years given their respective places in the Western Conference standings. The Kings (2-2) and Pelicans (1-4) finished one game apart in 2019-20 and posted identical records in 2020-21. They could find themselves neck-and-neck in the NBA playoff race again this season, but for the Pelicans that might depend on Williamson’s prognosis.
Williamson hasn’t suited up yet this season as he recovers from a broken foot. Earlier this week, Pelicans president David Griffin told ESPN Williamson will undergo scans this week to determine next steps in his recovery. There is no timetable for his return, but coach Willie Green said he is progressing.
The Kings will still have to contend with the likes of Brandon Ingram, Devonte’ Graham, Jonas Valanciunas and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Ingram, a player Kings coach Luke Walton knows well from his days with the Los Angeles Lakers, has been especially good. He is averaging career highs of 25.6 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting a career-best 48.1% from 3-point range.
Graham is averaging 18.4 points and 5.2 assists. He is shooting 39.5% from beyond the arc, but he might be due for an off night against a Kings defense that has already caused problems for Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Jordan Clarkson, Stephen Curry and Chris Paul.
The Kings will also have to deal with Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas, who went to New Orleans in the three-team trade that sent Steven Adams to the Memphis Grizzlies. Valanciunas was with the Grizzlies last season when he caused Kings forward Chimezie Metu to break his wrist on what Walton described as a “dirty” and “dangerous” play.
Wins and losses
The Kings let second-half leads slip away in home losses to the Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors, but they are 2-0 on the road with wins over the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns. The Kings took down the Suns when Harrison Barnes buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give them a 110-107 victory Wednesday.
The Pelicans were blown out in their first two games, falling 117-97 to the Philadelphia 76ers and 128-112 to the Chicago Bulls, but they’ve been much more competitive in their last three games. They lost by seven to the Minnesota Timberwolves, avenged that loss with a nine-point win over the Timberwolves 48 hours later and nearly knocked off a top Eastern Conference playoff contender in a 102-99 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
Buddy Love
Kings guard Buddy Hield got hot in Wednesday’s win over the Suns, pouring in 26 points while making 7 of 11 from 3-point range. Hield is averaging 18.3 points and a career-high 5.5 rebounds per game. He’s also shooting a career-best 44.2% from 3-point range despite a 2-of-10 showing against the Warriors on Sunday.
Temple ruled out
Pelicans small forward Garrett Temple has been ruled out for Friday’s game against the Kings due to a left ankle sprain.
Josh Hart was listed as questionable due to right quadriceps tendinosis, but he was cleared to play after going through a pregame workout. Hart hasn’t played since the Pelicans’ season opener against the 76ers on Oct. 20.
Halftime
The Kings opened up a 59-48 halftime lead after outscoring the Pelicans 11-0 over the final 3:23.
The Kings did a nice job at both ends of the floor, shooting 54.8% from the field and 43.8% from 3-point range while holding the Pelicans to 38%. New Orleans made just 3 of 17 from beyond the arc.
Barnes and Richaun Holmes had 12 points apiece. De’Aaron Fox has 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Valanciunas has 11 points and seven rebounds, but Ingram, Graham and Alexander-Walker have combined for just 20 points on 7-of-27 shooting.
Kings win
Fox had 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists, leading the Kings to a 113-109 victory over the Pelicans.
New Orleans staged a late 9-0 run to get within three on a 3-pointer by Graham with 23.2 seconds remaining, but Holmes, Hield and Barnes all knocked down a pair of free throws in the final seconds to help the Kings hold on.
Sacramento shot 50% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range and 95.8% at the free-throw line, going 24 of 25 at the stripe. New Orleans shot 42.3% from the field and made just 9 of 34 from beyond the arc.
Holmes had 21 points and six rebounds for the Kings, who improved to 3-0 on the road. Hield came off the bench to post 20 points and six rebounds. Barnes had another strong game with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Tyrese Haliburton was good, too, finishing with 17 points and eight assists.
Valanciunas had 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Pelicans before fouling out with 1:40 to play. Ingram finished with 22 points, six rebounds and six assists. Graham and Alexander-Walker combined for 27 points on 9-of-32 shooting.
“Another good road win,” Walton said. “Never easy to win in this league, especially on the road, so I’m proud of our group for fighting through it and finding a way to pull out another one and we’ll look to keep building on the momentum as this road trip carries on.”
The Kings will visit the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday and the Jazz on Tuesday before returning to Sacramento to face the Pelicans again on Wednesday at Golden 1 Center.
Haliburton talked the importance of good free-throw shooting following the game.
“It’s huge,” he said. “We hit a lot of big free throws down the stretch — Buddy and HB and Rich — and that helps us a lot. It’s going to be important as these games ramp up. The closer they are, a lot of times you look to things like rebounding and free throws and turnovers and stats like that are key indicators to winning and losing, so they’re very important.”
Note: Check back for updates with the latest news, notes, quotes and injury updates before, during and after tonight’s game between the Kings and Pelicans.
This story was originally published October 29, 2021 at 4:00 AM.
