New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) raises his arms to the gang throughout a Sacramento Kings timeout within the second half of an NBA basketball recreation in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (AP Picture/José Luis Villegas)
SACRAMENTO, California — CJ McCollum scored 30 factors, making seven 3-pointers, and the New Orleans Pelicans led by 50 factors in a 133-100 rout of the Sacramento Kings on Sunday within the NBA.
Jonas Valanciunas added 15 factors and 12 rebounds for the Pelicans, who’ve received six straight on the street and all 4 matchups this season towards the Kings, together with a quarterfinal victory in Sacramento within the In-Season Match. Brandon Ingram additionally scored 15 factors.
“It was stunning … simply wire to wire,” Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced mentioned. “It was enjoyable basketball to look at. They executed on each ends of the ground.”
50 POINT LEAD. pic.twitter.com/wjhzoEn0yB
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 8, 2024
Each groups, in the course of the pack within the Western Convention playoff image, entered the sport having received 4 of 5. The Pelicans had received 4 straight earlier than dropping by 16 to the Clippers at house on Friday.
Domantas Sabonis had 17 factors and 10 rebounds for the Kings, however star guard De’Aaron Fox scored simply three factors on 1-of-10 capturing.
“Give New Orleans quite a lot of credit score,” Kings coach Mike Brown mentioned. “They got here in right here and so they simply flat-out kicked our (butts), and did it for 4 quarters.”
Brown apologized to Kings followers who “spent their cash coming to look at the sport in the present day.”
“For us to carry out that method and the dearth of battle to get again within the recreation, keep within the recreation … was nonexistent,” Brown mentioned.
We’ll let CJ clarify why he enjoys taking part in in Sacramento 😂 pic.twitter.com/Ul2xtbJifq
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 8, 2024
The Pelicans received comfortably even with out Zion Williamson, who was out with a proper quad contusion. Inexperienced mentioned earlier than the sport that Williamson was “doing good,” however wouldn’t be obtainable. Jose Alvarado (non-COVID sickness) additionally missed the sport for the Pelicans.
The Pelicans, up 12 after one quarter, pulled away with a 12-2 run to begin the second. McCollum knocked down two 3-pointers in that stretch, giving New Orleans a 45-23 lead.
“Guys did an ideal job of shifting the ball round, setting nice screens for me, permitting me to take care of rhythm and stability and let me shoot the ball with confidence,” McCollum mentioned.
Ingram, who had eight assists, credited McCollum for “attending to his spots.”
“We had some good IQ on the ground,” Ingram mentioned. “The place he was hiding, we saved feeding him the basketball. He felt comfy tonight and we simply saved feeding him, so we all the time attempt to go to what’s scorching.”
The guests prolonged the result in 27 at halftime, with Ingram scoring seven straight factors, together with a pull-up 3-pointer in transition that gave the Pelicans their seventieth level of the half. New Orleans shot underneath 63% from the sphere within the first half whereas holding Sacramento to underneath 40%.
The lead went as much as 40 late within the third quarter on a 27-12 begin to the half for the Pelicans, with a 3-pointer by Naji Marshall giving them a 99-59 benefit. Trey Murphy’s 3-pointer with 9:44 left within the fourth put New Orleans forward 112-62.
“It’s a extremely good feeling once you’re capable of beat a crew on their house flooring, and also you hear their followers booing,” McCollum mentioned.
Each groups rested their starters for a lot of the fourth quarter.
New Orleans dominated on the glass, outrebounding Sacramento 51-25. The Kings had simply 9 boards within the first half.
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“It’s exhausting to beat a crew 4 occasions, we perceive that,” Inexperienced mentioned. “There’s sure matchups within the NBA which are fitted to sure groups. We appear to match up properly with Sacramento. We play them once more, so I’m certain when that point comes, they’ll be prepared.”
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Go to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
Kings: Go to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.