Kings at Pelicans
The Sacramento Kings are still alive in the Western Conference playoff race but need a strong finishing kick and help from other teams. Sacramento stands 5 1/2 games out with eight contests to play entering Thursday's road game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Kings returned to the .500 mark with a 125-121 road win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday and have split the first two games of a five-game road excursion. Sacramento finishes the trip against the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, two teams fighting for playoff positioning. New Orleans dropped three straight games and nine of its past 10 - eight by double digits - as it continues its second-half collapse. "I think the big thing for us is to keep playing hard, keep playing together, and we can live with the results," power forward Julius Randle said after Tuesday's 130-120 home loss against the Atlanta Hawks.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), FS New Orleans
ABOUT THE KINGS (37-37): Shooting guard Buddy Hield is just 10-of-34 shooting over the past two games but knocked down the go-ahead 3-pointer as Sacramento slipped past Dallas. "Just guys that want to step up in those moments," point guard De'Aaron Fox told reporters after Hield's big shot. "You got a lot of guys in here that want to take that big shot." Fox scored 23 points against Dallas one game after going 3-of-16 shooting for nine points during a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (31-45): New Orleans' shortage of players created an opportunity for forward Christian Wood and he was impressive in his second game with the team, establishing career-bests of 23 points, nine rebounds, six blocked shots and three steals. "He's a talented guy, and you can see some of the things he can do," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters of Wood. "Obviously he has no idea what we're doing (in terms of playbook) to be brutally honest, but he has the talent that he can create things. Six blocked shots is pretty good on any level." Wood figures to receive plenty of playing time down the stretch with big man Anthony Davis battling back issues, the absence of swingman E'Twaun Moore (quadriceps), Tuesday's injury to guard Frank Jackson (concussion) and point guard Elfrid Payton's aggravation of a wrist injury.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Davis averaged 25.5 points and 13.5 rebounds as the Pelicans split the first two meetings with the Kings.
2. Sacramento C Willie Cauley-Stein is 18-of-25 shooting over the past four games.
3. New Orleans G Jrue Holiday (abdominal) underwent season-ending surgery.