Did the Kings have heavy legs for their back-to-back? The start of the match for De’Aaron Fox and his teammates is in any case complicated, before they finally find a little rhythm.
Enough to allow them to pick up the score when they were already down by 12 points (17-5) after four minutes of play. The match remained hanging until the middle of the second quarter, until Zion Williamson hammers the paint with his attacks from the left-handed circle. Deprived of distance, the Kings falter (66-53).
After Zion Williamson’s 18 points in the second quarter, it was Brandon Ingram who took over by scoring 18 points in the third quarter. The style is necessarily different, but the effect is the same for Sacramento. The gap is +31 (100-69) at the end of the third quarter…
It’s time for Mike Brown to raise the white flag by sending his starters to the bench. The Pelicans, however, maintain the gap until the end (129-93) and offer themselves a superb victory against the Kings in form.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– End of series for the Kings. After six consecutive victories, the Kings did not exist. De’Aaron Fox (2/12) and his teammates (11/45) never found the target from afar. The fault is heavy legs but also the defensive activity of the Pelicans, with the enormous impact of the Herb Jones – Dyson Daniels duo.
– The return of Jose Alavarado. For the first time this season, the Pelicans were able to count on their replacement playmaker. His impact was limited (5 points, 3 assists) but his first basket of the season was greeted with enormous enthusiasm from the local fans, happy to find their darling.
– The Williamson/Ingram double blade. In the second quarter, it was Zion Williamson who bludgeoned the Kings in his characteristic style. His 18 points were the lead for the Pelicans, with the second lead coming from Brandon Ingram with 18 points in the third quarter. Midway.
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
