Pelicans Can't Overcome Zone Against Kings

Chrissy Smith • March 8, 2023

This is a subtitle for your new post

While the New Orleans Pelicans gave us a promising performance after the first half, the third quarter turned into shambles as the Pels lost 123-108 on Monday in Sacramento.


The Pels were tied at halftime but were then outscored 38-20 in the third quarter, and were never able to recover as their West Coast road trip thankfully comes to an end. It was a tale of two halves for the Pelicans, but what seemed to be the deciding factor was the zone defense that Sacramento put in place in the second half. Despite the Pelicans knocking down some big three-pointers in the first two quarters, the zone stifled the New Orleans offense.


Brandon Ingram scored 24 points for the Pelicans (31-34), but it wasn't enough as the Pelicans have lost six of their last seven games. New Orleans is now in 12th place in the Western Conference standings.


Jonas Valanciunas finished with 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting.


Domantas Sabonis had his eighth triple-double of the season for the Kings.


New Orleans plays Wednesday, March 8 against the Dallas Mavericks in what is the start of a four-game home stand.


Follow me on Twitter @SportsChrissy

A quick share helps us a lot!

By Dylan Mckneely June 12, 2025
"Are the New Orleans Pelicans the most interesting team of the summer?"
By Tina Howell June 6, 2025
NOLA Gold Rugby returns to the Shrine on Airline this Saturday, June 7, for an end-of-season showdown against the New England Free Jacks. Kickoff is set for 6:00 PM CT, with gates opening at 5:00 PM. Saturday’s match is the final home match of the season. Don’t miss your chance to cheer on NOLA Gold one last time in 2025 as they battle for a win and finish strong in front of the home crowd! The Free Jacks bring a well-balanced attack and disciplined defense, but NOLA is determined to defend home turf and feed off the energy of the Gold faithful. Expect an intense matchup for the end of the season. Fans can look forward to live music, food, and an electric game-night atmosphere unique to New Orleans rugby. The match will be broadcast live on the Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network (Cox Cable Channel 10) and streamed on ESPN+. Follow live updates, exclusive content, and player features across NOLA Gold Rugby’s social media platforms and official website. Tickets for the match and ticket packages are available now at nolagoldrugby.com or by calling 504-507-8429 (504-50-RUGBY). Matchday tickets start at just $25.
Show More