No Zion Williamson? That’s aight.
Brandon Ingram got the Pelicans on his back.
Ingram scored 24, while Jonas Valanciunas registered a double-double, as the New Orleans Pelicans punched their playoff ticket to complete the West playoff picture.
The Pelicans secured the eighth seed after fending off the Sacramento Kings, 105-98.
PELS PUNCH THEIR TICKET TO ROUND 1 🎟?
— NBA (@NBA) April 20, 2024
Game 1 vs. #1 OKC: Sunday, 9:30pm/et, TNT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/t8eAxEVfuf
After a sub-par performance in their 110-106 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers a couple of days ago, Ingram put up his best game yet since returning from knee injury that caused him to miss 12 games.
The 2020 Most Improved Player delivered with added six rebounds, and six assists, regaining his offensive groove in a win-or-go-home game for New Orleans.
B.I. cashes in the midrange J to close the 3Q 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) April 20, 2024
He has 18 PTS, 6 AST, 5 REB entering the 4th.
WIN-OR-GO HOME ON TNT pic.twitter.com/0o2X048ClM
Valanciunas feasted down low for a 19-point, 12-rebound night and added three blocks.
Up by nine points at 83-74 entering the fourth, the Pelicans broke the game wide open with a 14-3 run, capped by a Jose Alvarado triple to make it a 20-point game, 97-77, with 6:35 seconds left.
The Pelicans actually trimmed the lead to eight points at 101-93, behind back-to-back baskets from De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. But Trey Murphy answered back with a slam to make it 103-93.PEL'S BALL MOVEMENT ?? ALVARADO'S 3 🎯
— NBA (@NBA) April 20, 2024
Pels are ROLLING in the #SoFiPlayIn 4Q on TNT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3uXOehwRp3
Larry Nance Jr. added 13 markers while Murphy had a solid game of 12 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, including this baseline slam in the third frame.IS THIS THE 🗡? pic.twitter.com/5yltfgk1IU
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 20, 2024
Earlier, New Orleans rode a 12-2 run in the second frame to turn a 26-29 deficit into a 38-31 lead.Trey Murphy III ELEVATES and drops the HAMMER 🔨
— NBA (@NBA) April 20, 2024
Watch Kings-Pels 3Q #SoFiPlayIn action on TNT 🍿 pic.twitter.com/8WRNNI0xHm
B.I. and Murphy III find Larry Nance Jr. on back-to-back buckets to cap a 12-2 Pels run! 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) April 20, 2024
2Q #SoFiPlayIn action live on TNT pic.twitter.com/7Yj1f5SnLq
Meanwhile, Fox topscored the Kings with 35 points with Sabonis adding 23 markers, 14 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.
Keegan Murray, who exploded for 32 points in their win over the Golden State Warriors, was limited to 11 points on 4/12 shooting.
The Kings are now 0-6 against the Pelicans this season, including the Play-In, and exited earlier this season.
Already without Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter, Sacramento couldn’t match New Orleans’ intensity on the defensive end and just ran out of time. The Kings shot just 41 percent compared to the Pelicans’ 50 percent and got bullied inside with a 56-42 paint points disadvantage.
Game 1 of the Western Conference first round between the Pelicans and the Thunder will take place on April 22, Monday, at 9:30 a.m. It will be shown via the NBA League Pass.
