The New Orleans Pelicans emerged victorious, defeating the Sacramento Kings 105-98 to secure their playoff berth. Despite the absence of Zion Williamson, who suffered a hamstring injury earlier in the week, the Pelicans displayed a formidable team effort. Brandon Ingram led the scoring with 24 points, complemented by Jonas Valanciunas’s impactful double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds.
The team’s depth was on full display as six players scored in double digits, helping to compensate for the loss of their leading scorer. New Orleans’s tactical gameplay and resilient defense proved too much for the Kings, despite a high-scoring effort from De’Aaron Fox, who notched 35 points. This victory marks the Pelicans’ sixth win against the Kings this season, maintaining a perfect record and setting the stage for their next challenge as the eighth seed against the top-seeded Oklahoma City in the upcoming NBA playoffs.
