2024 Play-In Tournament: Following their victory against the Kings, the Pelicans will face OKC in the first round of the playoffs

In a play-in tournament elimination game on Friday night, the New Orleans Pelicans easily defeated the Sacramento Kings 105-98 to guarantee their spot in the NBA playoffs. Despite Zion Williamson, their top scorer, being out due to a hamstring injury, they still managed to win.

Williamson injured his left hamstring earlier this week while scoring 40 points in a play-in game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfazed, the Pelicans showcased a well-rounded offensive assault, with six players scoring in double figures. With 24 points, Brandon Ingram took the lead, followed by Jonas Valanciunas’ 19 points and 12 double-double rebounds.

Trey Murphy III (16 points), Jose Alvarado (10 points), Naji Marshall (11 points), and Larry Nance Jr. (13 points) all had significant off-the-bench contributions. Because of Williamson’s injury, Murphy was given the starting nod.

Even though De’Aaron Fox scored a game-high 35 points for the Kings, their effort was not enough to overcome the Pelicans’ teamwork. Sacramento also saw a 23-point and 14-rebound effort from Domantas Sabonis.

The Pelicans are especially happy with this victory since they had lost two prior chances to secure a postseason spot at home. They were in a risky situation after losing to the Lakers in their regular-season finale and then to the same club again in the play-in tournament.

After winning 49 games, the Pelicans almost missed being the first club in more than 50 years to miss the playoffs (the Phoenix Suns in 1972).

This season, New Orleans continued to dominate the Kings, finishing the regular season with a perfect 6-0 record. With the exception of the playoffs, this accomplishment is the first time a club has swept a season series with six victories since the Denver Nuggets did it against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1994–1995 campaign.

The NBA’s play-in tournament custom of No. 7 seeds making it to the playoffs was also preserved by the Pelicans. After their win, they move up to the eighth spot and will play the Oklahoma City Thunder, the top-seeded team, on the road on Sunday in the first round of the playoffs.

The Pelicans had a difficult start to the game as six turnovers in the first quarter gave Sacramento 11 points. The Kings jumped off to a 24-point lead, but things soon changed around. The Pelicans fought back and took a 13-point lead in the second quarter, sparked by three-pointers from Trey Murphy and CJ McCollum.

Murray’s absence severely thinned the Kings’ already thin lineup, who was without Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk because of injury. Taking advantage of this, the Pelicans increased their lead late in the second half to 53-40. Despite a three-pointer by De’Aaron Fox to narrow the gap before to halftime, the Pelicans led comfortably at the half, 54-45.

In the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs, the Pelicans will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder, the top-seeded team, after the number eight seed was ultimately verified and the playoff brackets were finalized. Earlier in the evening, the Miami Heat had also upset the Chicago Bulls and secured their postseason berth.