New Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento Kings Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 18/04/2024, 22:40  by Joseph King | Modified on 18/04/2024 at 22:51 in NBA Predictions

It’s a win or go home showdown in the Western Conference with the final playoff spot up for grabs. The New Orleans Pelicans will host the Sacramento Kings on Friday with the winner earning the eighth seed and a matchup with the OKC Thunder in the first round. 

New Orleans fell short in their bid to claim the seventh seed after their 110-106 defeat to the LA Lakers on Wednesday. The Pelicans are at risk of having nothing to show for what was a very strong season overall. They finished with a 49-33 record for their highest win total in 15 years. Unfortunately for them, they were beaten by the Lakers on the last day of the regular season which prevented them from earning automatic entry to the postseason with a top-six seed. They’ve now lost their last two in a row, both to the Lakers, after previously having won four straight. Zion Williamson had a monster game in the Pels' last outing, putting up 40 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. New Orleans were dealt a serious blow with the news that Williamson suffered an injury in the game and will be out for at least the next few weeks.

The Kings’ 46-36 record had them finish the regular season as the ninth-placed team in the West. They managed two fewer wins than the team that finished third in the standings last season, showing the dramatic improvement of the conference as a whole this year. While the Kings did not experience a strong end to the campaign, winning just two of their last seven games, they would bounce back in the play-in first round. Sac-town got revenge over the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season as they cruised by the Warriors with a 118-94 blowout win. The visitors have now won their last two in a row and will feel they have the momentum heading into this matchup.