The Play-In Tournament’s final chapter arrives with this Western Conference showdown. The Sacramento Kings exorcised some demons by slaying the Golden State Warriors in their 10 vs. 9 match. Conversely, the New Orleans Pelicans not only fell in their 8 vs. 7 tilt against the L.A. Lakers but lost Zion Williamson to injury in the process.

The NBA odds think the visiting Kings will clip the Pelicans, although not by much. Sacramento is a -1.5 favourite.

Kings vs. Pelicans NBA Betting Odds

It was made official on Wednesday that Zion Williamson will not play on Friday. He suffered a left hamstring sprain in the final minutes of Tuesday’s Play-In bout and will be evaluated in a fortnight. The question becomes: will the Pelicans be engaged in playoff basketball in two weeks? Of note, the team went 7-5 in Williamson’s absence this season, including a Jan. 7 victory over the Kings, so there is hope.

Not that Sacramento isn’t dealing with the injury bug. As mentioned in the preview for the Warriors game, Kevin Huerter is lost for the season and Malik Monk is not close to returning even though he hasn’t been ruled out for the playoffs.

On the topic of hope, that’s what Kings fans are clinging to as their team heads to Louisiana. The Pelicans vanquished the Californian club five times already this season. Four of those five victories were by 10 points or more.

This is the third successive season the Pelicans need to make it out of the Play-In to be a proper playoff side. They got through in 2022 but were bounced out in 2023.

Sacramento Kings

Despite the absences of Monk and Huerter, the rest of the Kings did something they had probably dreamt about since losing Game 7 to Golden State in the first round a year ago: vengeance. Tuesday was an occasion for an up-and-coming organization to put a fading rival to the sword.

Sacramento relished the opportunity, controlling the entirety of the game for a convincing 118-94. They lost the second quarter but won the other three so easily it didn’t matter. What impressed most was the quality of defensive play, as they limited Golden State to only 80 shots in total. Second-year player Keegan Murray erupted for 32 points, including eight threes (nine boards too). Domantas Sabonis didn’t score as much as one might have expected (16) but dominated the glass with 12 rebounds and added seven assists and a pair of steals. De’Aaron Fox added 24 points of his own. Incredibly, all five starters had point differentials of plus-20 or greater.

The icing on the cake? Golden State’s Klay Thompson finished the game with a goose egg in the points column.

New Orleans Pelicans

This section feels a lot like what we wrote about the Miami Heat in our Chicago-Miami preview. To that point, what the Pelicans experienced on Tuesday was eerily similar to what befell the Heat 24 hours later.

New Orleans played a tough, close game versus the Lakers and had a chance to claim victory. That is, until Williamson (40 points) hurt his left hamstring, slammed a towel on the bench and left for the locker room. The game was still in the balance at that time, but anyone worth their salt as a basketball fan knew what was about to happen. L.A. took advantage of a bewildered New Orleans side and won 110-106. Brandon Ingram (10 points) still doesn’t quite look like his usual self and CJ McCollum was alarmingly ineffective, going 4-for-15 for nine points.

The Pelicans will need more from McCollum and bigger contributions from the likes of Jose Alvarado and Jonas Valanciunas in the paint.

NBA Play-In Prediction: Who Will Win Kings vs. Pelicans?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Kings Team Leaders

SAC

Points	De'Aaron Fox 26.57
Assists	Domantas Sabonis 8.21
Rebounds	Domantas Sabonis 13.66
FG%	Jalen Slawson 66.7
Steals	De'Aaron Fox 2.03
Blocks	Keegan Murray 0.77

NO

Points	Zion Williamson 22.87
Assists	Brandon Ingram 5.67
Rebounds	Jonas Valanciunas 8.79
FG%	Larry Nance Jr. 57.3
Steals	Dyson Daniels 1.39
Blocks	Jonas Valanciunas 0.83

SAC

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

NO

Points	CJ McCollum 17.75
Assists	CJ McCollum 4.75
Rebounds	Jonas Valanciunas 11
FG%	Larry Nance Jr. 58.8
Steals	CJ McCollum 1.75
Blocks	Trey Murphy III 1.5

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Pelicans Team Leaders

SAC

Points	De'Aaron Fox 26.57
Assists	Domantas Sabonis 8.21
Rebounds	Domantas Sabonis 13.66
FG%	Jalen Slawson 66.7
Steals	De'Aaron Fox 2.03
Blocks	Keegan Murray 0.77

NO

Points	Zion Williamson 22.87
Assists	Brandon Ingram 5.67
Rebounds	Jonas Valanciunas 8.79
FG%	Larry Nance Jr. 57.3
Steals	Dyson Daniels 1.39
Blocks	Jonas Valanciunas 0.83

SAC

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

NO

Points	CJ McCollum 17.75
Assists	CJ McCollum 4.75
Rebounds	Jonas Valanciunas 11
FG%	Larry Nance Jr. 58.8
Steals	CJ McCollum 1.75
Blocks	Trey Murphy III 1.5

Injuries

Sacramento

Olivier-Maxence Prosper (PF)

Que Wed Ankle - 25 / 04 / 24

Trey Lyles (PF)

Prob Sun Illness - 14 / 04 / 24

JaVale McGee (C)

Prob Fri Illness - 11 / 04 / 24

Jordan Ford (PG)

Prob Fri Hip - 10 / 04 / 24

Malik Monk (SG)

Mid May Knee - 29 / 03 / 24

Kevin Huerter (SG)

out for season Shoulder - 19 / 03 / 24

Kevin Huerter (SG)

Prob Sat Leg - 13 / 03 / 24

Trey Lyles (PF)

Prob Sun Knee - 13 / 03 / 24

Davion Mitchell (PG)

Prob Sun Chest - 09 / 03 / 24

De'Aaron Fox (PG)

Ques Mon Knee - 27 / 02 / 24

New Orleans

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (PF)

Prob Mon Ankle - 27 / 04 / 24

Cody Zeller (PF)

Prob Sat Face - 24 / 04 / 24

Zion Williamson (PF)

Early May Hamstring - 17 / 04 / 24

Naji Marshall (PF)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 12 / 04 / 24

Larry Nance Jr. (SF)

Prob Sun Personal - 11 / 04 / 24

Naji Marshall (PF)

Prob Thurs Shoulder - 05 / 04 / 24

Larry Nance Jr. (SF)

Prob Fri Undisclosed - 04 / 04 / 24

Zion Williamson (PF)

Prob Sun Finger - 04 / 04 / 24

Jose Alvarado (PG)

Prob Sun Oblique - 27 / 03 / 24

Brandon Ingram (SF)

Prob Sun Knee - 21 / 03 / 24

Injuries

Sacramento

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Olivier-Maxence Prosper (PF)	Que Wed	Ankle - 25 / 04 / 24	0-0	0-0	+ -
Prosper is nursing an ankle sprain, and it remains to be seen if he will face the Celtics in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
Trey Lyles (PF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 14 / 04 / 24	2-0	0-2	+ -
Lyles is battling an illness, but it is likely that he will participate in Sunday's matchup versus the Trail Blazers.
JaVale McGee (C)	Prob Fri	Illness - 11 / 04 / 24	2-2	1-3	+ -
McGee missed the last game with an illness, but it is predicted that he will be available Friday against the Suns.
Jordan Ford (PG)	Prob Fri	Hip - 10 / 04 / 24	2-2	1-3	+ -
Ford was held from the last match tending to a right hip issue, but it is predicted that he will face the Suns on Friday.
Malik Monk (SG)	Mid May	Knee - 29 / 03 / 24	6-5	3-8	+ -
Monk is sidelined due to a sprained right MCL, and he is projected to miss four to six weeks.
Kevin Huerter (SG)	out for season	Shoulder - 19 / 03 / 24	9-8	4-13	+ -
Huerter will miss the remainder of the season with a left shoulder dislocation and labral tear.
Kevin Huerter (SG)	Prob Sat	Leg - 13 / 03 / 24	11-9	4-16	+ -
Huerter missed the previous match with a right leg contusion, but it is likely that he will take the court against the Knicks on Saturday.
Trey Lyles (PF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 13 / 03 / 24	11-9	4-16	+ -
Lyles has been idle due to a left MCL sprain, but he is expected to make his return against the Jazz on Sunday.
Davion Mitchell (PG)	Prob Sun	Chest - 09 / 03 / 24	11-10	5-16	+ -
Mitchell is hampered by right chest soreness, but he is expected to face the Rockets in Sunday's showdown.
De'Aaron Fox (PG)	Ques Mon	Knee - 27 / 02 / 24	14-13	8-19	+ -
Fox has missed the last two games with a left knee contusion, and it is unknown if he will take the court Monday against the Bulls.

New Orleans

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (PF)	Prob Mon	Ankle - 27 / 04 / 24	0-2	1-1	+ -
Jeremiah is dealing with a left ankle sprain, but he is expected to available against the Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round.
Cody Zeller (PF)	Prob Sat	Face - 24 / 04 / 24	1-2	1-2	+ -
Zeller is managing a facial injury, and he will expected for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round versus the Thunder.
Zion Williamson (PF)	Early May	Hamstring - 17 / 04 / 24	1-2	1-2	+ -
Williamson is sidelined with a left hamstring strain, and he will remain idle for at least two weeks.
Naji Marshall (PF)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 12 / 04 / 24	3-4	3-3-1	+ -
Marshall sat out the last contest with a left shoulder contusion, but it is anticipated that he will face the Lakers on Sunday.
Larry Nance Jr. (SF)	Prob Sun	Personal - 11 / 04 / 24	3-4	3-3-1	+ -
Nance has missed the last two games dealing with a personal matter, but it is predicted that he will participate in Sunday's tilt against the Lakers.
Naji Marshall (PF)	Prob Thurs	Shoulder - 05 / 04 / 24	4-6	5-4-1	+ -
Marshall has missed the last two games due to a right shoulder injury, but it is anticipated that he will suit up Thursday against the Kings.
Larry Nance Jr. (SF)	Prob Fri	Undisclosed - 04 / 04 / 24	4-6	5-4-1	+ -
Nance exited the previous match with an unknown injury, but it is predicted that he will suit up Friday versus the Spurs.
Zion Williamson (PF)	Prob Sun	Finger - 04 / 04 / 24	4-6	5-4-1	+ -
Williamson missed the last clash with a left middle finger contusion, but it is not expected to affect his status against the Suns on Sunday.
Jose Alvarado (PG)	Prob Sun	Oblique - 27 / 03 / 24	5-9	7-6-1	+ -
Alvarado has been idle with a right oblique strain, but it is anticipated that he will return against the Suns on Sunday.
Brandon Ingram (SF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 21 / 03 / 24	7-11	8-9-1	+ -
Ingram has been sidelined with a bone contusion in his left knee, but he is expected to return against the Lakers on Sunday.