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2024-25 NBA Regular Season
New Orleans Pelicans v Sacramento Kings
Smoothie King Center
New Orleans, Louisiana
Friday 14 February 2025
Tip-off at 03:00
Sacramento Kings have an opportunity to push for a play-off berth when they take on Western Conference strugglers New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on the morning of Friday, February 14.
It will be the second match-up between the two teams in the space of 24 hours as the Kings look improve on their ninth place in the West which sees them 1.5 games behind LA Clippers in the race for a top-six finish.
Doug Christie's team improved their record for February to 3-3 with back-to-back wins against the Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks, although Golden State Warriors (10th) and Phoenix Suns (11th) are breathing down their necks.
DeMar DeRozan played a starring role in the 129-128 win over the Mavs in overtime on February 11, scoring a season-high 42 points, while Domantas Sabonis added 16 points and 15 rebounds for his 47th double-double game of the season.
Commenting on his winning bucket, DeRozan said: "I was just being patient, I knew that (the double team) was coming. My team told me to go win the game.
"I knew I was going to get a look some way, some how and I got the step through, got the floater and I'm glad to win it especially when I almost tricked the game off by turning the ball over on an inbound."
The Pelicans have endured a torrid campaign and they have the second-worst record in the NBA after losing 41 of their opening 53 games.
A 137-101 rout at the hands of Oklahoma City Thunder on February 11 was their ninth straight loss and it left Willie Green's team bottom of the pile in the West.
New Orleans were no match for the Thunder, who set a franchise record with 27 3-pointers in the game. Only four players hit double figures for the Pelicans, with Trey Murphy III the standout after scoring 23 points.
"We talked about it, we watched it, we went over it, but when you touch the floor against a really good team, you're in the fire," Green said. "Over and over we have to be consistent with making the right plays, the right passes.
"This is what they (Oklahoma City) do, they turns teams over... it's a learning lesson for our group, a young group on the floor tonight, and you've got to go through some of the growing pains."
New Orleans Pelicans v Sacramento Kings - Head-to-head, Regular Season
Games played: 79
Pelicans wins: 44
Kings wins: 35
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