Pelicans stun Kings in first win
Jeremiah Fears posted a double-double and Herb Jones started in his absence, leading New Orleans to a 132-120 victory over Sacramento.
By Gavin Wilson ·
The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Sacramento Kings 132-120 on Thursday night at Smoothie King Center to claim their first win of the season.
Jeremiah Fears recorded 22 points and 13 assists, the latter marking a career high for the guard. He finished with 11 rebounds, falling two short of his first triple-double. Herb Jones, starting for the first time this season, contributed 16 points in the win.
Zion Williamson added 22 points, while Trey Murphy III scored 19. Karlo Matkovic provided 12 points, and both Bennedict Mathurin and Saddiq Bey finished with 10 each. The victory improves the Pelicans' record to 1-4.
Guard Dejounte Murray sat out the game to be with his family following the birth of his son. Coach Jamahl Mosley indicated that utilizing Jones in the starting lineup has been a priority, as the center started in the previous five seasons.
Sacramento's Darius Acuff led the Kings with 34 points and 12 assists. Precious Achiuwa and De'Andre Hunter each scored 24, and Zach LaVine added 21. The Kings remain winless at 0-5, one of only two teams in the league without a victory alongside the Brooklyn Nets.
New Orleans built its lead during the third quarter. After committing his fourth foul early in the period, Jones stayed on the floor and scored seven points. A 25-8 run, fueled by points from Jones, Fears, Williamson, and Murphy, extended the Pelicans' advantage to 19 points midway through the quarter.
The Kings closed the gap to 11 points before New Orleans ended the third with a 102-88 lead. That marked the second consecutive quarter in which the Pelicans outscored Sacramento by 39 points. The lead changed hands seven times in the first quarter, which Sacramento won 30-24. The second quarter ended with New Orleans ahead 63-61, driven by a 12-0 run and late three-pointers from Fears and Matkovic.
