New Orleans made it through the playoffs over Sacramento

New Orleans and Sacramento played a very close game to advance to the first round of the playoffs. The home team was more successful in the end, winning 105:98 and advancing to the playoffs at the expense of the Kings. In addition, the Pelicans scored their 6th win in a row against them.

Both teams played against each other in different forms. New Orleans fell twice in a row to the Los Angeles Lakers before this game and missed the chance to make the playoffs in the last game.

Sacramento’s current form spoke clearly for Sacramento, but it had the shadow of five regular season defeats against New Orleans. Even the experts couldn’t agree on who would win in this evenly matched game. Moreover, the Pelicans had to do without their biggest star Zion Williams in this game.

Sacramento dominated the first quarter by two points. New Orleans, however, reminded that they are unusually good against the Kings in the second quarter and turned the game around. The result was a nine-point lead at halftime.

In the penultimate passage the game was very even and New Orleans entered the last quarter with a 9-point lead, which they did not let go for the rest of the game. Although Sacramento had more of the game, it was a loss and the end of the season for this ambitious team.

The entire team collectively contributed to the home team’s victory in the absence of Zion Williamson. Brandon Ingram scored 24 points as he got healthy for the playoffs. This time, however, he had support from his teammates, as 6 other players scored at least 10 points. In the previous games, when Williamson excelled, this was not the case.

Unfortunately, Sacramento was not helped by the great performance of De’Aaron Fox, who scored 35 points and was the Pelicans’ top scorer. Moreover, he was complemented by the team’s second star scorer Domantas Sabonis, who added 14 rebounds and 7 assists to his 23 points. However, once again it was not enough and Sacramento also lost to the Pelicans in 6 games this season.

New Orleans will challenge the Oklahoma City Thunder, led by shooting guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, in the 1st round of the playoffs. However, the team is not entering this series as a favorite.

Source: NBA