Pelicans at Kings
The New Orleans Pelicans are experiencing a disappointing season but
they are having no trouble picking up wins against the Sacramento Kings.
New Orleans is 3-0 this season against Sacramento and attempts to
defeat the host Kings for the sixth consecutive time when the teams
square off Wednesday.
The Pelicans have been brutal defensively while losing the first four games of a five-game road trip. New Orleans has given up more than 120 points three times on the excursion while allowing an average of 118.7 points. Sacramento halted its five-game losing streak by posting a 106-98 road win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. It was just the second victory in 11 games for the Kings, who had allowed 100 or more points in 22 consecutive games before keeping the Lakers a basket shy of the century mark.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, CSN California (Sacramento)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (24-42): New Orleans clinched a losing season with Monday's 125-107 loss to the Golden State Warriors just one season after going 45-37 and making the playoffs. The Pelicans have been plagued by heavy injuries and now are limping to the finish with eight defeats in the past nine games. New Orleans' lone victory during the nine-game stretch was a 115-112 home win over the Kings on March 7 when All-Star power forward Anthony Davis had 31 points and 10 rebounds.
ABOUT THE KINGS (26-40): The last month has been a rough time for Sacramento as All-Star DeMarcus Cousins has regularly feuded with coach George Karl and drew a one-game suspension last week after a tirade. The Kings are two defeats away from their 10th consecutive losing campaign and need to go 7-9 the remainder of the way to avoid their fourth straight 50-loss season. "Our biggest problem with our season is being a consistent team," Cousins said after scoring 22 points against the Lakers. "We're one team one night, and we're another team the next night. It's an issue."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Cousins is averaging 32.7 points and 12.7 rebounds in this season's three losses to the Pelicans.
2. New Orleans backup SF Ryan Anderson, a Sacramento native, is averaging 24.3 points and has made 10 3-point baskets against the Kings this season.
3. Sacramento SG Ben McLemore (fractured right ring finger) likely will miss his fifth straight game.