Preview: Kings look to secure Pacific Division title in New Orleans

Apr 4, 2023, 8:54 AM | Updated: 9:24 am

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 06: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings goes up for a shot o...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

On the heels of what was arguably its ugliest loss of the season, the Sacramento Kings will try to bounce back on Tuesday night against a New Orleans Pelicans team that has won seven of its past eight games.

Sacramento (47-31) dropped a disappointing 142-134 overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs at Golden 1 Center on Sunday in a game that could have brought the Kings its first Pacific Division title since the 2002-03 season. Instead of celebrating the end of the playoff drought and a division crown, fans in attendance were sent home unhappy as Sacramento’s home struggles continued.

Luckily for the Kings, they will play its next two games on the road, putting a Western Conference-best 24-14 road record to the test against the Pelicans on Tuesday and Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.

Both of Sacramento’s upcoming road opponents are playing for their playoff lives, with New Orleans (40-38) entering play against the Kings just one half-game behind the sixth-seed spot in the standings.

That’s right–depending on how the final five days of the regular season unfold, Tuesday night’s matchup at Smoothie King Center could be a potential first-round matchup in the NBA Playoffs.

Kevin Huerter's name is climbing the Sacramento Kings record books 👀https://t.co/Wmi4ijWgIW

— Sactown Sports 1140 (@Sactown1140) April 3, 2023

Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans Game Info

When: 5:00 PM PST

Where: Smoothie King Center – New Orleans, LA

TV: NBC Sports California

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM – Pregame coverage starts at 3:30 PM PST on Game Night

Line: Pelicans -4.0, O/U: 2316

Right The Three-Point Ship

It seemed like Sacramento had shaken off last Monday’s season-worst three-point performance against Minnesota (5/27, 18%) after posting a 42 percent average from beyond the arc during back-to-back wins in Portland.

That forward progress was dashed on Sunday as the Kings struggled to knock down looks from deep against a Spurs team that ranked dead last in opponent three-point field goal percentage (39%). Sacramento converted 11 of its 44 attempts (25%) from three as players like Kevin Huerter (two-of-12) and De’Aaron Fox (0-of-eight) struggled.

A get-right game is needed once again for the Kings, but don’t expect it to come easy against New Orleans.

The Pelicans enter play on Tuesday with the best three-point defense in the NBA, as they have held opponents to a league-best 33.8 percent from beyond the arc over 78 games.

Over three head-to-head matchups this season, Sacramento is shooting–you guessed it–33.8 percent on the nose from deep against New Orleans.

With the playoffs on the horizon, this will be a good test for the Kings as they attempt to end the season with some momentum. Finding success against a top-five defensive team would go a long way in pushing this team in the right direction.

Pelicans, Meet Fox. Fox, Meet Pelicans.

Sacramento might hold a 1-1 record against New Orleans this season, but they have played both games without the services of All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox.

Fox, who holds career averages of 23.1 points and 7.1 assists per game on 49 percent shooting from the field over 16 appearances against New Orleans, will face the Pelicans for the first time this season when the Kings take the floor at Smoothie King Center.

WHO ELSE?! 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/rqxuhZPwTU

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) April 3, 2023

Fox has scored 43 points against the Pelicans twice since the start of the 2020-21 season, and the speedy guard will look to take advantage of a New Orleans defense that sits in the middle of the league when it comes to allowing fast break points per game.

While the Pelicans’ three-point and paint defense rank among the best in the league, the same can’t be said about its transition defense–an area of Fox’s game that can give opposing defense nightmares.

Sacramento has been outscored 23-20 in fast break points during its two matchups against the Pelicans, but with Fox back in the fold, expect ‘Swipa’ to get out and run to challenge New Orleans’ shaky fast-break defense.

Matchup of the Game: Sabonis vs. Valančiūnas

Teammates on the Lithuanian men’s basketball team in the offseason, Domantas Sabonis and Jonas Valančiūnas are familiar with one another’s games.

Valančiūnas has given the Kings fits over the years, as the 6’11 center holds averages of 20.8 points and 12.8 rebounds per game on 64 percent shooting from the field over his past five meetings with Sacramento.

Sabonis has gotten the best of Valančiūnas over nine career head-to-head matchups (6-3), while the three-time All-Star has averaged 15.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists on 56 percent shooting during two matchups against the Pelicans this season.

Watch for these two bruising centers to challenge each other in the paint on Tuesday, as both big men will look to act as a catalyst in the post.

Clinch Scenarios

It’s simple for the Kings:

Win, and clinch the Pacific Division for the first time since 2003. A Phoenix loss can also net Sacramento the division title, but that scenario is unlikely seeing that that San Antonio Spurs will play a Suns team that has won five-straight games.

April 4 clinch and elimination scenarios for the Western Conference ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/YweOOR6qjs

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 4, 2023

Injury Report

Sacramento

Malik Monk – QUESTIONABLE (left lower leg soreness)
Matthew Dellavedova – OUT (right index finger fracture)

New Orleans

Jose Alvarado – OUT (right tibial stress reaction)
EJ Liddell – OUT (right knee ACL injury recovery)
Zion Williamson – OUT (right hamstring strain)

Be sure to get all of your Kings vs. Pelicans coverage right here on Sactown Sports 1140 beginning at 3:30 PM PST on Game Night with Scott Marsh and Henry ‘The High Flyer’ Turner before a 5:00 PM PST tip-off from downtown New Orleans.