The New Orleans Pelicans are now 1-3 in the NBA restart after a 140-125 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
How It Happened:
Sacramento jumped out to a 10-point lead by scoring 49 points in the first quarter. The Pelicans scored 39 points to keep the deficit to 10 point entering the second.
The Pelicans limited the Kings to 28 points in the second quarter after Sacramento’s fast start. New Orleans outscored them 31-28 before halftime. The Kings still took a 77-70 lead after the first half.
The Kings were able to keep the Pelicans at a distance in the second half. Sacramento outscored New Orleans in both the third and fourth quarters. The Pelicans did cut the lead down to two points in the third quarter, but the Kings managed to build their lead back up to 14 points by the end of the third quarter.
Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram combined for 48 points in the loss. Each player had 24 points. Williamson shot 10-of-12 from the field. J.J. Redick led the scoring off the bench with 18 points, while starting point guard Jrue Holiday recorded 17 points, five rebounds and five assists on 7-of-10 shooting from the field.
The Kings’ Bogdan Bogdanovic torched the Pelicans for 35 points. He connected on six 3-pointers. Point guard De’Aaron Fox recorded 30 points and 10 assists. Sacramento shot 53.8 percent from the field as a team and hit 16 3-pointers. The Kings took care of the ball by only turning it over eight times compared to the Pelicans’ 17 turnovers.
The Pelicans are now 29-39 for the season and 2.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the 8 seed in the Western Conference.
Big Number: 49
Sacramento set the tone right away by scoring 49 points in the first quarter. It is the most points they have scored in any quarter since since moving to Sacramento in the 1985-86 season.
Up Next: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Washington Wizards on Friday, August 7th at 7 p.m