Preview: Kings seek redemption vs. sliding Pelicans

Dec 12, 2024, 9:31 AM

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 03: Malik Monk #0 of the Sacramento Kings shoots the ball against...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

On April 19th, the Sacramento Kings saw its 2023-24 season end at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans as the Pelicans punched their tickets to the NBA Playoffs.

The Pelicans had Sacramento’s number last year, going 6-0 against the Kings while winning each game by an average margin of 19.2 points.

New Orleans (5-20) enters play on Thursday night under different circumstances, holding the worst record in the Western Conference as they navigate an injury-plagued start to the 2024-25 season.

The Kings (12-13) have brushed off their own injury issues by winning its past two contests in blowout fashion, giving them a chance to secure a third straight win and pull back to the .500 mark.

After being dominated by the Pelicans last year, Sacramento has its chance at redemption as New Orleans will take the floor without All-Star forward Zion Williamson (hamstring), high-scoring forward Brandon Ingram (ankle sprain), and dynamic bench guard Jose Alvarado (ankle sprain).

Can the Kings take advantage of the struggling Pelicans and continue its recent stretch of winning basketball?

Sacramento Kings @ New Orleans Pelicans Info

When: 5:00 PM PT

Where: Smoothie King Center – New Orleans, LA

TV: NBC Sports California, NBA League Pass (for out-of-market viewers)

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM – Coverage starts at 2:00 PM PDT on The Drive Guys

Line: Kings -6.5, O/U 231.5

Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Pelicans coverage, beginning at 2:00 PM PST on The Drive Guys before a 5:00 PM PST tip-off from New Orleans.

A New-Look Offense

Sacramento’s long-term success will likely depend on its ability to defend consistently, but Malik Monk’s insertion into the starting lineup has the Kings’ offense operating at a very high level.

In Monk’s five games as a starter, you can see how much the offense has benefited from having another creator and distributor in the mix, and that change has resulted in an offensive outburst that recently included back-to-back 140-plus point performances.

Here’s how Sacramento’s offense has looked since Monk was moved into the starting lineup by head coach Mike Brown on December 1st:

Sacramento’s offense over the first 20 games of the season:

113.7 PTS | 48% FG | 33% 3PT | 24.5 AST

Sacramento’s offense after moving Malik Monk into the starting lineup:

127.2 PTS | 50% FG | 41% 3PT | 31.2 AST pic.twitter.com/ON08o4hIZa

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) December 10, 2024

Through five games in a starting role, Monk is averaging 19.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.4 assists on 47 percent shooting from the field and 43 percent from beyond the three-point line (8.4 attempts per game).

After logging 24.1 minutes per game during his first two seasons in Sacramento, Monk has seen his playing time bump to 32.8 minutes per game in a starting role.

“It’s about time,” Domantas Sabonis said with a laugh on Tuesday when asked about Monk’s addition to the starting lineup. “He’s thriving. He’s a great leader. He’s showing it. The vibes are great, everyone is happy. The ball is moving, and it’s contagious.”

Monk and the Kings offense will look to take advantage of a New Orleans defense that holds the third-worst defensive rating in the NBA.

Defend The Three

Sacramento’s three-point defense has been abysmal this season (37.7%), only ahead of Atlanta (38.2%) for the worst in the NBA.

The Kings have an opportunity to lower that average on Thursday night when they face a Pelicans offense that has arguably been the worst shooting team in the league thus far:

Made 3PT field goals: 271 (last in NBA)
3PT field goal attempts: 828 (28th in NBA)
3PT FG%: 32% (26th in NBA)

New Orleans is 4-4 when shooting 37 percent or better from deep this season, meaning they fall to 1-16 when shooting below that mark.

Sacramento is 10-3 (.769) this season when holding opponents under 40 percent from three-point range this season, meaning a strong defensive showing on Thursday could add to that success.

Notes

Kevin Huerter has been thriving in a bench role lately, averaging 15.3 points on 57% FG and 50% 3PT over the past four games. The Kings are 12-2 (.857) this season when Huerter scores 10+ points.
Sacramento hasn’t beaten the Pelicans since April 4, 2023 (lost five straight regular season games, six including the Play-In).