Ashley Landis / Associated Press
The Sacramento Kings are still alive in the Western Conference playoff match thanks to their 140-125 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.
Zion Williamson had his best game of the second half, scoring 24 points out of 10 out of 12 in just 22 minutes.
Earlier in the day, the Kings had lost each of their first three games since the NBA season resumed and had the worst record of any team still playing in the West, 28-38.
Thursday’s win moves the Kings to a draw with the Pelicans and Phoenix Suns, but they are still 2.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for eighth and 1.5 games behind the Portland Trail Blazers for ninth.
The Pelicans’ defeat is devastating for their playoff chase, even with a favorable schedule remaining. They entered the day on a par with the San Antonio Spurs and a game back of the Blazers for the seed no. 9.
New Orleans no longer has games left against winning teams, but will need help in the final week of the season to reach the postseason.
Remarkable player stats
- Zion Williamson (NO): 24 points (10 out of 12 FG), 2 REB, 2 AST
- Bogdan Bogdanovic (SAC): 35 points (13 out of 20 FG), 4 REB, 3 AST
- De’Aaron Fox (SAC): 30 points (12 out of 21 FG), 10 AST, 3 REB, 3 STL
- Brandon Ingram (NO): 24 points (8 out of 14 FG), 3 REB, 3 AST
- JJ Redick (NO): 18 points (5 out of 10 3PT FG)
The inept defense condemns the pelicans
Amidst all the excitement about Zion Williamson’s potential to be a part of the NBA playoffs in his first season, one thing that has been overlooked is how much… and the pelicansThey’ve been on defense all year.
They entered on Thursday classified 18th in defensive efficiency and 27th in points granted per game (116.7).
Things have been particularly alarming since the reboot, starting with the Los Angeles Clippers who shot 25 of 47 three-pointers into New Orleans on August 1.
The Kings had no trouble taking advantage of the New Orleans defense from jumping with 49 points in the first quarter.
Sacramento slowed in the second quarter with just 28 points, allowing the Pelicans to finish by seven at halftime. In the end, however, the Kings kept the pressure on and were too much to overcome.
It’s plausible to assume this is just a one-season anomaly and things will get better for the Pelicans. They didn’t have Williamson for most of the year due to injuries and minute restrictions. Newbies are also known for fighting defense outside the gate.
Pelicans have a lot of defensive talent. Jrue Holiday is one of the most respected players on that side of the ball among his peers:
Williamson was an excellent Duke defender. There’s no reason to believe he’s forgotten how to play on that side of the ball yet.
Lonzo Ball was a quality defender throughout his career.
As long as manager Alvin Gentry preaches to his players the importance of blocking opponents, the Pelicans should be fine next season. They didn’t look ready for the challenge since the season got underway, which could cost them a place in the playoffs.
Fox, Bogdanovic gives hope to kings
When the Kings were at their best during the 2018-19 season, there was an air of excitement surrounding the franchise for the first time in years.
The Ringer’s Dan Devine included the Kings among his top five teams last season:
“The ignominious drought at the leading Sacramento championship playoffs will really continue for another year, but there is something to be said about the fact that the Kings stayed alive until the end of March and did so by playing a vibrant and frenetic brand. of basketball that revitalized a long-moribund and introduced the NBA to some young players on the road to stardom. “
At the heart of the Sacramento surge was an offense that could score with anyone in the NBA. De’Aaron Fox was a budding star; Buddy Hield earned a contract extension after averaging 20.7 points per game and shooting 42.7% from three; and Marvin Bagley III showed promise as a rookie with 14.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
This season has been much more in line with the Kings teams arriving before 2018-19. Hield has regressed and is shooting under 40% from three (38.9) for the first time since he was a rookie in 2016-17. Bagley’s season ended after 13 games due to a foot injury.
Despite a number of problems, Thursday offered a glimmer of hope for the future of the kings. Fox and Bogdan Bogdanovic were at the height of their offensive powers.
Bogdanovic is eligible for limited free will this offseason, but The Athletic’s Jason Jones reported in April that Sacramento intends to match any potential offers the 27-year-old might receive.
A core of Fox, Bogdanovic and a healthy Bagley is a good start for the Kings. Hield has a high ceiling if he can get back to the shooting form he showed earlier this season.
There is something to build Sacramento on. It will take a lot of things to go well for the franchise to reach the playoffs at the Western Conference, but Thursday was a good indication of what the team can be at best.
What’s next?
The Pelicans will be back in action on Friday when they face the Washington Wizards at 8 pm ET. The Kings will play the Brooklyn Nets on Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
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