Kings newcomers Zach LaVine, Jonas Valančiūnas, and Jake LaRavia light the beam postgame (Photo Sacramento Kings on X).

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO – On Saturday, the Sacramento Kings returned home, ready to take on the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans entered the matchup as one of the worst teams in the NBA, holding a 12-39 record on the season. After the Kings’ loss on Thursday in Portland, they desperately needed a win against the struggling New Orleans squad. The game tipped off at 7 PM PST inside the Golden 1 Center, where the Kings secured a 123-118 victory over the Pelicans.

In the first quarter, the Kings got off to a horrendous start. Their starters were overwhelmed, and the team quickly fell behind by 20 points as the Pelicans took control early, leading 29-9. With the starters struggling, Doug Christie turned to his bench, bringing in Jonas Valančiūnas, Jake LaRavia, and Keon Ellis. The energy immediately shifted, allowing the Kings to cut the deficit to five points. By the end of the quarter, the Kings trailed the Pelicans 34-24, leaving them with work to do.

The Kings showed improvement in the second quarter, but they still couldn’t keep pace with the Pelicans. New Orleans outscored Sacramento 34-30, extending their lead. At halftime, the Kings trailed 65-54. Domantas Sabonis led the way for Sacramento with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the first half.

The third quarter saw the Kings’ offense come alive. They went on a tear, outscoring the Pelicans 45-22 to storm back and take the lead, entering the fourth quarter ahead 99-87. Through three quarters, Zion Williamson led New Orleans with 27 points, while Sabonis paced the Kings with 21.

In the final quarter, the Pelicans outscored the Kings 31-24, but it wasn’t enough to complete a comeback. Sacramento did just enough in the closing minutes to secure the 123-118 victory. Although it wasn’t the prettiest game, the Kings managed to get the job done, which was the most important factor for Doug Christie heading into the matchup. Sabonis led the team with 27 points and 16 rebounds, though he fouled out in the final minutes for the second consecutive game. Williamson finished as the game’s top scorer, dropping 40 points on an ultra-efficient 16-of-21 shooting.

Postgame, I spoke with Trey Murphy about his consistent success against the Kings whenever he plays in Sacramento. On Saturday, he put up 20 points and jokingly said, “I like the nets here in Sacramento.” Murphy continues to develop his game, making significant strides in his fourth NBA season.

Doug Christie addressed the media after the game, reflecting on the slow start. “The start of the game was not really what we wanted. We have to figure out how to begin a little closer to what we did in the third quarter… but the bench came in and gave us a huge boost.”

As the game neared its final minutes, Malik Monk repeatedly approached the scorer’s table only to return to the bench. Postgame, I asked Doug if Monk was set to replace Keon Ellis or another player. Christie clarified, saying, “No, he was coming in for Deebo, but Deebo made a shot. If Malik was in that position, Deebo would have been like, ‘leave him in the game.’ They understand the game, and it’s more about winning.”

This insight sheds light on the potential future role of Keon Ellis. He appears to be one of the most impactful players on the roster, and time will tell if that earns him a spot in the starting lineup. His inclusion in the closing minutes suggests that he is already being rewarded for his contributions.

Before catching Kings basketball stop by Old Sacramento for a spectacular Mexican Meal at Le Terezza Restaurant at 1027 Second Street Sacramento. Choose from an array of delicious Mexican favorites on the menu. Call 916-440-0874.

Up Next: The Kings will travel to Dallas to take on the new-look Mavericks on Monday at 5:30 PM PST at the American Airlines Center.