CJ McCollum and Domantas Sabonis are averaging 20+ points coming into tonight’s game.
The most interesting NBA game Thursday features two teams not in the playoff chase, and not even in the early mix for a Play-In Tournament spot. The Kings and Pelicans are both 25 games into their seasons, and both could be facing a fork in the road for the season (and perhaps for each franchise’s direction, too).
Here are five notes to know for Kings vs. Pelicans on NBA League Pass tonight (8 p.m. ET)
- Have the Kings been unlucky?: Sacramento is 12-13, but it sits a stone’s throw away from a play-in spot. Getting to the sixth seed, even this early in the season, would be tricky. The postseason is surely the goal, and the Play-In is a path toward that. The Kings can take some solace in knowing that their play has arguably been better than their record. Sacramento has a plus-3.2 point differential, which is seventh best in the Western Conference.
- New Orleans struggling: The Pelicans have an uphill climb ahead of them. After a 1-9 run they sit at 5-20. Not only that, but New Orleans has a minus-11.7 point differential. The only team that has been lower is the fully rebuilding Wizards, which means the Pelicans have to ask themselves some hard questions.
- Injuries hampering the Pelicans: New Orleans can point toward injuries impacting its record. Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy have all missed time, and though all are now healthy, the Pelicans just can’t get their envisioned lineup together. Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram are both out, and neither is on the precipice of returning.
- What’s the plan for New Orleans?: The Pelicans have already slotted rookie center Yves Missi in as a starter, and he’s delivered 8.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. Playing a young guy in a season that has stalled out makes sense, but who else will emerge?
- DeRozan’s fit in Sacramento: De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis are doing their thing for the Kings, but the team added DeMar DeRozan in the offseason in hopes he’d help them reach new heights. DeRozan has taken on a lesser role than he had as a go-to guy with the Bulls even as he’s scoring 22.5 ppg. He also has three 25-point games in his last six outings.
