Kings vs. Pelicans Preview – By the Numbers

January 7, 2024

The Kings. Are. Due. 0-3 against the Pelicans this year so far, the Kings get another crack at taking down New Orleans in the Sunday matinee.

Zion Williamson, who has 61 Points on 67.5% shooting from the field against the Kings, is questionable for this one. The Pelicans are 3-3 (.500) when Zion hasn’t played this season, compared to 18-12 (.600) with the big man. If he is unable to go today, the attention will focus in on Brandon Ingram, who’s season high 40 Point game came when Zion was out.

One of the reasons the Kings have struggle so much against the Pelicans is that they haven’t hit their looks from beyond the arc. In the 3-games, Sacramento has shot 40-of-130 (30.8%) from deep, well below their season average of 37.3%. The Pelicans give up 38.9 3PA’s per game, most in the NBA. They have a sound defensive strategy of clogging the lane with their length and athleticism, forcing teams to become shooting teams.

The good news for the Kings is that in their last 5 games, they have shot 43.2% from beyond the arc, the highest 3P% in any 5-game span this season. Coming in on a hot shooting streak against the team that allows the most 3PA’s in the league seems like great timing if you ask me…

In that 5-game stretch, the Kings have had multiple players connecting from beyond the arc:

  • Trey Lyles: 16-of-25 (64%)
  • Harrison Barnes: 12-of-23 (52.2%)
  • Malik Monk: 18-of-37 (48.6%)
  • Chris Duarte: 6-of-13 (46.2%)
  • Keegan Murray: 10-of-26 (38.5%)
  • De’Aaron Fox: 15-of-42 (35.7%)

Trey Lyles is also questionable as of the writing of this article, which would be a big hit against the lengthy Pelicans. Trey is the type of player who always seems to be in the right spot, and when he’s hitting his threes at that clip, he becomes one of the best stretch fours in the game.