This Tuesday, the New Orleans Pelicans take on the Sacramento Kings in the Smoothie King Center.
Latest Updates Injury for Pelicans vs. Kings game
Both the Pelicans and the Kings have won at home in their two encounters so far this season. On February 5, New Orleans triumphed 136-104, and on March 6, the Kings triumphed 123-108.
The Sacramento Kings are locked into the third seed in the Western Conference heading into the final week of the season.
The New Orleans Pelicans (40-38), now in eighth place, have a lot of wiggle room to either climb the standings or fall farther.
After winning seven of their last eight games, the Pelicans are no longer in grave danger of missing the playoffs, which loomed over them late last month.
A win over the Kings would guarantee the Pelicans a position in the play-in tournament. On Tuesday, they’ll be a half-game back of the sixth-place Golden State Warriors and fifth-place Los Angeles Clippers, both of whom they now hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over.
Forward Brandon Ingram has been the driving force behind the Pelicans’ recent success, scoring 25 or more points in nine consecutive games.
Ingram has averaged 30.3 points, 8.2 assists, and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 52.4 percent from the field, 48.0 percent from deep, and 92.4 percent from the charity stripe.
With Zion Williamson (hamstring) likely to miss the rest of the regular season, the Pelicans can count on Ingram to continue to produce big numbers in his role as the team’s unquestioned No. 1 option throughout the remaining four games of 2022-23.
Even though the Kings (47-31) have already secured their first playoff appearance in 16 years, head coach Mike Brown is worried about his team’s focus.
Brown noted that defensive efforts often lacked the “physicality and sense of urgency” that are necessary for success.
With four games left, Sacramento sits in third place, two games behind second-place Memphis, and four games ahead of fourth-place Phoenix.
The Kings’ last game was Sunday, a 142-134 overtime loss to San Antonio.
Forward Domantas Sabonis scored 26 points (9-12 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 7-12 FT), grabbed 8 rebounds, dished out 6 assists, blocked a shot, and stole a ball in 39 minutes of action.
There are still four games left, he noted, so the team needs to “sharpen things up.”
Sabonis missed out on a double-double by by two boards, and the big man was incredibly efficient, making just three of his 12 field goal attempts.
Sabonis, the Kings’ primary option every game, continues to contribute at a high level despite missing out on a sixth consecutive double-double.
Over the course of his last ten games, he’s averaging 20.9 points, 12.1 boards, and 7.4 assists.
Injury Update for Kings:
- Malik Monk (Lower Leg) – Questionable
- Matthew Dellavedova (Finger) – Out
Injury Update for Pelicans:
- Zion Williamson (Hamstring) – Out
- Jose Alvarado (Leg) – Out
- E.J. Liddell (Knee) – Out
