New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) takes the ball to the hoop against the Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (41) in the first half at Smoothie King Arena in New Orleans on Wed Nov 22, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After getting totally ripped Monday night by the New Orleans Pelicans (8-7), the Sacramento Kings (8-6) met the Pelicans in a second game in as many days on Wednesday night. While they did trail at half-time they made things very interesting in the fourth quarter. The Kings tied the game numerous times in the final quarter but came up short losing 117-112.

Monday night the New Orleans Pelicans (8-7) completely owned the Sacramento Kings (8-6) crushing them 129-93. The Pelicans built momentum with each quarter and by the end of the third quarter this game was a done deal. In the first quarter of that first game Monday night, the Kings actually won the opening 31-29.

The Pelicans established a lead at the half 66-53 and never looked back. Wednesday night the Kings played the Pelicans in a second game in as many days hoping to turn things around but lost by five points to get swept in the two game series.

Game recap: In the first quarter of this game the Pelicans took the opener 32-30 so very similar to their first game Monday night. The second quarter was eerily similar with the Pelicans taking the quarter 32-20. At the half New Orleans led 64-50.

The Pelicans had a 14 pt. lead in this game at half-time and they held a 13 pt. lead in the first game of this series at the half. Zion Williamson already had 17 points in the first half and was making himself right at home driving the basket scoring layups at will.

The Kings defense was having a lot of trouble stopping him. Brandon Ingram had 11 points in the half. The Kings Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox both had double digits.

Mid-way through the third quarter, the Kings made some adjustments keeping Williamson out of the paint and making things much more difficult for him. As the third came to an end, Zion Williamson had not scored a single basket and Brandon Ingram had six points in the quarter.

The Pelicans continued to hang onto a double digit lead and after three quarters the score was 79-93. The Kings were trailing but this was manageable going into the fourth quarter unlike Monday’s game. Sacramento was out of that game going into the fourth on Monday night. It would all come down to the fourth quarter for Sacramento in this game.

With 8 1/2 minutes left in the game the Pelicans called a timeout. Sacramento had pulled to within two points 97-95. Sacramento’s bench player Trey Lyles had really turned it on scoring 12 points and De’Aaron Fox was really pushing with 24 points scored.

This game was within the Kings reach as Sacramento had tied up the game at 102 with 6:44 left on the clock. At 5:16 the Kings had, at long last, taken the lead 105-104. The Kings fought hard in the final quarter but came up just short losing the game 117-112.

The Kings had enough offense to have won this game but at times there was a defensive let-down. Fox had the high score for the team with 26 points. Sabonis had 23 points and Barnes finished with 22 points. Monk and Lyles both had double digits off the bench.

Friday night the Kings continue their road trip taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00.