By Eric Jay Santos
On Thursday, the New Orleans Pelicans took a 140-133 win over the Sacramento Kings. The victory snaps the Pelicans’ ten-game losing streak.
CJ McCollum scored a game-high 43 points with seven rebounds and two assists. This was McCollum’s third 40+ point performance of the season. Zion Williamson was listed as out of action due to conditioning.
Zach LaVine finished with a double-double for the Kings, registering a team-high 32 and 10 assists. DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis, and Malik Monk each contributed 20 points of their own. Additionally, Sabonis tied his career-high for rebounds with 28.
With New Orleans ahead by two points and six seconds left in regulation, Monk grabbed a missed free throw from Sabonis and was fouled. Monk then made two free throws of his own to tie the match. McCollum had a chance to win it at the buzzer but missed a driving floater, sending the game into overtime.
Tied at 133-133 and two minutes left in overtime, momentum swung in favor of the Pelicans. McCollum scored five points, while DeRozan missed two three-point attempts and LaVine committed a turnover.
New Orleans now holds a 13-42 season record. They enter the All-Star break with the worst record in the Western Conference.