The stakes get higher when the New Orleans Pelicans battle the Sacramento Kings to determine who will get the final West playoff spot on Saturday (PHL time).
Pelicans vs. Kings in 2nd play-in game.
Which team wins? pic.twitter.com/TGgI5u7XkU
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 17, 2024
The winner of the Pelicans-Kings duel will face the top-seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the West opening round.
But one notable player is missing in a sudden-death grudge match.
Pelicans superstar Zion Williamson has been ruled out of that key showdown after sustaining a left hamstring strain and will be evaluated in two weeks, the team announced on April 18.
The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that forward Zion Williamson has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain. An MRI taken this morning confirmed the injury. Williamson will be re-examined in approximately two weeks. pic.twitter.com/efY3f2Kq0X
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 17, 2024
Williamson suffered the injury in the closing moments of New Orleans’ 110-106 loss to the LA Lakers, when the former no. 1 pick had a monster game of 40 points and 11 rebounds before exiting the game.
[ALSO READ: Lakers survive 40 from Zion to clinch Playoffs spot, to face Denver in round 1]
The former Duke star is coming off a strong regular season in which he averaged 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and five assists on 57 percent shooting.
Without Zion, the offensive load will now be expected to be carried by McCollum and Brandon Ingram, who need to rediscover their scoring touch in time or else New Orleans will be in deep trouble.
The former All-Stars combined for horrid 8/27 shooting in the ? Play-In game against the Lakers.
McCollum is New Orleans’ third leading scorer behind Williamson and Ingram, averaging 20.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
Ingram just came back after missing 12 games with a left knee injury and has appeared in only two games since — both against the Lakers — and has yet to reach top form.
Meanwhile, the Kings took care of business and ended the playoff hopes of the Golden State Warriors behind a 118-94 rout in Sacramento.
[ALSO READ: Kings eliminate Warriors as payback, to face Pelicans for final West playoff spot]
Keegan Murray had a 32-point explosion, with the duo of De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis for 40 points, 16 rebounds, and 13 assists.
Keegan Murray's #SoFiPlayIn-record 8 THREES lead the Kings to victory!
They'll face NOP for the #8 seed Friday 🍿 pic.twitter.com/6ATfC9NIJE
— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2024
Keon Ellis also emerged as the unsung hero for the Kings, tallying 15 points, four rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocked shots in 39 minutes.
New Orleans won all five of their regular season match-ups over Sacramento but the Kings only needed one win to send them back to the NBA playoffs for the second year in a row.
Pelicans get the regular season sweep vs. the Kings 🧹
They're the first team to go 5-0 vs. a single team in a season since the Heat against the Nets in 1995-96 😮 pic.twitter.com/bVxkKkQ4l2
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 12, 2024
The battle for the final West playoff spot between the ninth-ranked Sacramento Kings and the seventh-ranked New Orleans Pelicans will air on Saturday, April 20, 9:30 a.m. LIVE on NBA TV Philippines.
