SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings will face off against the New Orleans Pelicans Friday in a last-chance game to make it to the NBA playoffs.
It won't be an easy game. The Kings went 0-5 against the Pelicans during the regular season. The closest score was within five points, but that was in November. New Orleans beat Sacramento by more than 30 points twice during the season.
Sacramento hasn't gone winless in six or more games against the same opponent in a season since going 0-8 against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1983-1984 regular season and playoffs.
During Friday's play-in tournament, the Kings will still be without Malik Monk because of a knee injury. Monk was key in last year's playoff series averaging 19 points, the second most for the Kings in the series.
The Kings are coming off a 94-118 Tuesday night victory against the Golden State Warriors, who beat Sacramento in the playoffs last year. That was the year the Kings broke its 16-season playoff drought, the longest in NBA history.
The Pelicans are coming off a 110-106 loss against the Los Angeles Lakers. Pelicans star Zion Williamson left the game with a leg injury and will miss Friday's elimination game.
The Lakers will face off against the Denver Nuggets, the #2 seed and the defending champions, in a seven-game series. Either the Kings or the Pelicans will take the #8 seed and go on to face Oklahoma City Thunder, the #1 seed. Find the latest matchups for the 2024 NBA playoffs HERE.
Friday's play-in tournament starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. It will be televised on TNT.
Here's a breakdown of the Kings vs. Pelicans during the 2023-2024 season
- November 20, 2023: Kings 93 Pelicans 129
- November 22, 2023: Kings 112 Pelicans 117
- December 4, 2023: Kings 117 Pelicans 127
- January 7, 2024: Kings 100 Pelicans 133
- April 11, 2024: Kings 123 Pelicans 135
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