Davion Mitchell says Kings ‘need to get their get-back’ vs. Pelicans

Apr 17, 2024, 10:35 AM

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 11: CJ McCollum #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans dribbling the ball is...

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

On the heels of a triumphant showing in a winner-take-all NBA Play-In game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night, the Sacramento Kings are looking ahead to their next opponent.

The Kings dominated the Warriors at Golden 1 Center, winning by a final of 118-94 in a game that places Sacramento one win away from clinching a second-straight NBA Playoff berth.

As the excitement of eliminating Golden State reverberates throughout the Kings’ fanbase, a daunting task awaits. Sacramento will have to go through the New Orleans Pelicans—on the road—if they are to advance into a first-round series.

Saying that New Orleans has enjoyed facing the Kings this season would be an understatement, as the Pelicans hold a 5-0 record while outscoring Sacramento by an average of 19.2 points over five regular season matchups.

While the Kings’ track record doesn’t bode well for their chances, Davion Mitchell says familiarity could benefit the Beam Team on Friday night.

Sacramento just faced New Orleans on April 11th in a game that saw the Kings trail by nine points heading into the fourth quarter before the Pelicans pulled away for good.

Friday’s winner-take-all Play-In game will take place at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, but a road matchup against the Pelicans isn’t phasing Mitchell, who alluded to the fact that Sacramento has played well on the road in recent memory.

“I think we play really well in away games, so I think we’ll be ready,” Mitchell said of traveling to New Orleans for the do-or-die matchup.

Over the past two seasons, the Kings’ 47-35 record on the road is tied for the second-best in the NBA, only trailing the Boston Celtics (52-30).

Success away from Golden 1 Center has been a strength for Sacramento, but they will need to get past a Pelicans team that will be playing with a heightened sense of urgency following back-to-back losses to the Los Angeles Lakers, with the most-recent defeat pushing them to the brink of elimination.

After exorcizing their Warriors demons on Tuesday, the Kings will hope to continue forward on the road of redemption against New Orleans, who they will be facing for the sixth and final time this season.

“We need to get our get-back,” Mitchell said when asked how he felt about facing the Pelicans again. “That’s one team we need to get… I think before last game [against New Orleans], someone said that we can’t let them beat us five times. We try not to put so much pressure on ourselves and we try to just go out there and play and come up with come up with the win.”

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Sacramento will need one more win on Friday night to keep their season alive and clinch a first-round playoff berth, but the New Orleans Pelicans will stand in their way as the two teams will meet for the sixth time this season.

The Pelicans have won all five head-to-head meetings against the Kings this season, including a 135-123 triumph on April 11th at Golden 1 Center.

Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Pelicans coverage, beginning at 5:00 PM PST on Game Night before a 6:30 PM PST tip-off from New Orleans.