New Orleans Pelicans Face Sacramento Kings in Road Matchup

Pelicans look to end 6-game road skid against struggling Kings

Apr. 3, 2026 at 6:07am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a basketball game between the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a cubist style, using the teams' official color palettes.A cubist interpretation of the on-court action as the Pelicans and Kings battle it out, reflecting the high-stakes nature of this matchup between two struggling Western Conference squads.Today in Sacramento

The New Orleans Pelicans (25-52) will visit the Sacramento Kings (20-57) on Friday night, as the Pelicans try to snap a 6-game road losing streak. The Kings have struggled this season, ranking 15th in the Western Conference, while the Pelicans sit 12th despite their recent road woes.

Why it matters

This matchup features two teams near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, but the Pelicans have a chance to build some momentum and end their road slide against the struggling Kings. The game could also impact the draft order, as both teams are vying for a higher pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

The details

The Pelicans have been led by Trey Murphy III, who averages 3.3 fast break points per game, the third-highest mark in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Kings have struggled defensively, allowing 121.1 points per game. In the teams' last meeting on March 6, the Pelicans won 133-123 behind 23 points from Zion Williamson.

  • The game is scheduled for Friday, April 3, 2026 at 10 p.m. EDT.
  • The Pelicans have lost 6 straight road games heading into this matchup.

The players

Trey Murphy III

A key player for the Pelicans, averaging 3.3 fast break points per game, the third-highest mark in the Western Conference.

Zion Williamson

Scored 23 points in the Pelicans' last win over the Kings on March 6.

DeMar DeRozan

The leading scorer for the struggling Kings, averaging 18.6 points per game.

Daeqwon Plowden

Has been making 2.8 3-pointers per game over the Kings' last 10 contests.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to end this road slide and get back on track. Every game is important as we look to finish the season strong.”

— Zion Williamson, Pelicans Forward

“This has been a tough season, but we're still fighting and looking to finish on a high note in front of our home fans.”

— DeMar DeRozan, Kings Guard

What’s next

The Pelicans will look to build on this game as they continue their road trip, while the Kings hope to use the home crowd to their advantage in trying to snap their own skid.

The takeaway

This matchup between two struggling Western Conference teams provides an opportunity for the Pelicans to end their road woes, while the Kings hope to use home-court advantage to pick up a rare win and potentially improve their draft position.