NEW ORLEANS — Keon Ellis showcased an impressive shooting performance, sinking seven 3-pointers and scoring a total of 27 points, aiding the Sacramento Kings in their victory over the New Orleans Pelicans with a final score of 119-111 on Wednesday night. Zach LaVine played a crucial role in the second half, contributing 20 of his 23 points during that period. DeMar DeRozan also made a significant impact for the Kings, scoring 24 points, while Malik Monk added another 17. The Kings were able to secure the win by going on an 11-2 run in the final five minutes, which started with a three-pointer from LaVine and ended with DeRozan’s turnaround jumper from 16 feet.
Domantas Sabonis posted a double-double, finishing the game with 16 points and 15 rebounds, marking his 48th double-double in just 51 games this season. This victory for the Kings marked their third consecutive win. On the opposing side, Zion Williamson stood out for the Pelicans, delivering a spectacular performance with a game-high 33 points and nine rebounds. Despite his efforts, the Pelicans suffered their tenth consecutive loss, a grim milestone they have reached twice this season. Supporting Williamson were Trey Murphy III with 19 points, Jose Alvarado adding 18, and C.J. McCollum contributing 14 points. The game remained competitive for most parts, featuring 13 lead changes and 12 ties, but the Pelicans fell behind late.
A noteworthy takeaway from the game for the Kings was their ability to triumph despite being outscored 70-40 in the paint. The Kings managed to outperform the Pelicans in rebounding as well, pulling down 48 boards compared to New Orleans’ 40. Sacramento also excelled from beyond the arc and was more effective from the free-throw line, outscoring New Orleans 21-15.
For the Pelicans, Bruce Brown made his debut as the first reserve off the bench, scoring four points in 26 minutes. However, newly acquired center Kelly Olynyk did not see action during this game. Another setback for New Orleans occurred when reserve center Karlo Matkovic fouled out after just 15 minutes of play.
A crucial moment in the game happened when rookie Antonio Reeves hit a corner 3-pointer, narrowing the gap to 104-102 with 5:36 remaining. LaVine quickly countered with a 3-pointer of his own from the right wing, igniting a decisive run for the Kings that ultimately led them to victory.
One important statistic featured in the game was Sacramento’s shooting efficiency from long-range, where they made 16 out of 45 attempts (35.6%), while New Orleans struggled with only 8 of 32 (25%) from beyond the arc.
The two teams are scheduled to face off again in New Orleans on Thursday.
