NEW ORLEANS — Domantas Sabonis delivered an impressive performance, scoring a season-high 32 points and securing 20 rebounds, helping the Sacramento Kings edge out the New Orleans Pelicans 111-109 on Thursday evening.

DeMar DeRozan contributed with 29 points, while De’Aaron Fox and Keegan Murray both added 18 points to the team’s success. With this win, the Kings have now triumphed in three consecutive games and four out of their last five.

On the other side, CJ McCollum shone for New Orleans by hitting a season-high six three-pointers, finishing the game with 36 points. His three-point play, which occurred after being fouled by Fox and resulted in a floater off the glass, brought the score to 111-109 with just 1:20 left on the clock.

Following this, the Pelicans managed to make two defensive stops, setting them up for a chance to tie or win in the dying moments of the game. However, Malik Monk intercepted the ball from Dejounte Murray, producing a play that was recorded as a block, allowing Sabonis to secure the loose ball and clinch the victory with his final rebound.

For New Orleans, Trey Murphy III concluded the game with 21 points, although he only scored five after the first quarter. Meanwhile, Murray finished with 20 points for the Pelicans, who have struggled mightily, suffering losses in 21 of their last 24 contests.

In terms of insights, the Kings had previously not scored less than 115 points in any of their last eight wins. Their total of 111 points equaled their season low in a victorious outing, a feat they have achieved three times now.

For the Pelicans, Yves Missi grabbed 11 rebounds, but his impact was somewhat diminished due to foul trouble, which Sabonis exploited on both ends of the court. New Orleans finished the game with 22 fouls, three more than Sacramento, and committed 17 turnovers throughout the match.

A notable moment in the game came when Murray sank a 26-foot shot, quickly followed by a baseline floater that narrowed the gap to 111-106 with 1:41 remaining.

Statistically, the Kings capitalized on their offensive rebounds, turning 18 into 21 second-chance points, and also outperformed the Pelicans at the free-throw line, scoring 27 to New Orleans’s 17.

Looking ahead, Sacramento is set to host the Denver Nuggets on Monday night, while the Pelicans will travel to face the Indiana Pacers on Sunday afternoon.