Gameday live: NBA play-in race breakdown for Kings, Pelicans, Trail Blazers, Spurs, Lakers
The Kings find themselves in a familiar position as they enter the final stretch of the season. They are on the outside looking in at a crowded Western Conference playoff race, and, for the third year in a row, they’re chasing a group of teams that includes the New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs.
The Kings have probably sealed their fate already. They are 17 games under .500 and three games out of 10th in the West with a brutal schedule awaiting in mid-March, but they have one last chance over the next several days to claw their way back into the play-in picture.
The Kings (23-40) are likely facing must-win situations when they visit the Pelicans (25-36) on Wednesday at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans and the Spurs (24-38) on Thursday at AT&T Center in San Antonio. The Pelicans are tied with the Blazers for 10th in the West, 1 ½ games ahead of the Spurs and three games ahead of the Kings.
Sacramento has an opportunity to gain a game on at least two of those teams with two wins in 24 hours. If the Kings can follow with wins over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday and the New York Knicks on Monday, they could have a pulse in the play-in race going into a daunting stretch against the Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns.
FiveThirtyEight.com currently projects the Pelicans will finish ninth in the West with the Los Angeles Lakers finishing 10th to claim the final play-in berth. The website is giving the Pelicans a 24% chance of reaching the play-in followed by the Lakers (7%), Spurs (7%), Blazers (1%) and Kings (1%).
The Lakers (27-34) are clinging to ninth in the West, but they have lost three in a row and six of seven since losing Anthony Davis with a right mid-foot sprain. The Lakers have the NBA’s second-toughest remaining schedule (.546), according to Tankathon.com. The Kings are ninth (.515), Pelicans 20th (.493), Spurs 22nd (.488) and Blazers 30th (.441).
Zion Williamson update
Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has yet to suit up this season after undergoing offseason surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot. There is still no timetable for his return, but the Pelicans provided an update Wednesday indicating Williamson is progressing.
“Recent imaging showed improved bone healing of the fifth metatarsal in Zion Williamson’s right foot,” the team said. “He will gradually progress to full weight-bearing exercise and basketball activities. He remains out indefinitely.”
Note: Check back throughout the day for updates on tonight’s game between the Kings and Pelicans.
Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Smoothie King Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sports 1140 KHTK
Odds: Pelicans -5.0
Over/under: 235
Injury report
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Richaun Holmes (back). OUT — Terence Davis (wrist).
Pelicans: OUT — Kira Lewis Jr. (knee); Larry Nancy Jr. (knee); Zion Williamson (foot).
This story was originally published March 2, 2022 at 4:00 AM.
