Pelicans Look to Bounce Back Against Kings

New Orleans visits Sacramento in a battle of struggling Western Conference teams.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:20am

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A cubist-inspired painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the colors of the Pelicans and Kings uniforms, representing the dynamic action of a basketball game.The chaotic, fragmented visual style captures the back-and-forth nature of a close NBA matchup between two struggling teams.Today in Sacramento

The New Orleans Pelicans (25-51) will travel to Sacramento to take on the Kings (20-57) on Friday night. The Pelicans are coming off a blowout loss to the Rockets, while the Kings are fresh off a win over the Raptors. Both teams have struggled mightily this season and will be looking to pick up a much-needed victory.

Why it matters

This game features two of the worst teams in the Western Conference, as both the Pelicans and Kings have already been eliminated from playoff contention. However, a win could provide a small morale boost for either squad as they look to finish the season on a high note.

The details

In their last game, the Pelicans were blown out by the Rockets 134-102. They struggled defensively, allowing Houston to shoot 46.7% from the field. Offensively, the Pelicans converted 18 of their 44 three-point attempts. Dejounte Murray led the way for New Orleans with 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Kings, on the other hand, defeated the Raptors 123-115 in their previous outing. Precious Achiuwa had a big game for Sacramento, scoring 28 points and grabbing 19 rebounds.

  • The game will take place on Friday, April 3, 2026.
  • Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM local time at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

The players

Dejounte Murray

A key player for the Pelicans, Murray scored 19 points and dished out 6 assists in the team's last game.

Precious Achiuwa

The Kings' big man had a dominant performance in their previous outing, recording 28 points and 19 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“We have to play better defense if we want to have a chance to win games down the stretch.”

— Dejounte Murray, Pelicans Guard

“It was great to get a win against a tough opponent like the Raptors. We need to build on this momentum heading into our next game.”

— Precious Achiuwa, Kings Forward

What’s next

The Pelicans and Kings will meet again on April 5th in New Orleans, giving both teams another chance to pick up a victory before the season ends.

The takeaway

This matchup features two teams that have struggled mightily this season, but a win could provide a much-needed boost of confidence as they look to finish the year on a high note. Both the Pelicans and Kings will be fighting hard to come out on top in this battle of Western Conference also-rans.