Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Both winless Western Conference teams (Kings 15th, Pelicans 14th) meet with one guaranteed to earn its first victory of the 2026-27 season. The Pelicans are playing the second night of a back-to-back after a 104-91 home loss to Denver on Wednesday; the Kings are on a road trip after a 130-103 loss at San Antonio on Tuesday.
Tip-off, Broadcast & Venue
TV/Streaming: Gulf Coast Sports / Pelicans+, NBCS-CA / PCK-SAC, NBA League Pass
Arena: Smoothie King Center (New Orleans, LA)
Injury Reports
Sacramento Kings
Ben Simmons (Achilles) – Out for season
Keegan Murray (ankle) – Out
Dylan Cardwell (calf) – Out
Maxime Raynaud (knee) – Out
(Additional notes in some reports list Sean Pedulla out/G League two-way.)
New Orleans Pelicans
Yves Missi (knee/bone bruise) – Day-to-day / Out (missed Wednesday; expected extended absence in some reports)
Jordan Poole (ankle) – Day-to-day (limited or out of Wednesday’s game in some accounts)
The Kings’ frontcourt is significantly thinned beyond Domantas Sabonis and Precious Achiuwa. The Pelicans are thin at center with Missi sidelined.
Current Rosters & Key Contributors
Kings core/available rotation highlights: Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, Darius Acuff Jr. (rookie), De’Andre Hunter, Precious Achiuwa, Malik Monk, Nique Clifford, Emanuel Sharp, Jonathan Mogbo, Alex Karaban, Daeqwon Plowden, and others. Typical recent starters have featured Acuff, LaVine, Hunter, Achiuwa/Sabonis combinations.
Early season leaders (approx. through 4 games):
LaVine ~27.3 PPG
Sabonis ~19 PPG / 16.5 RPG / 7.3 APG
Acuff ~21.5 PPG
Pelicans core: Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones, Jordan Poole, Derik Queen, Saddiq Bey, Bennedict Mathurin, Jeremiah Fears, DeAndre Jordan, Karlo Matković, and others.
Early season leaders:
Williamson ~21.8 PPG (strong efficiency, high steals)
Murray ~6 APG / solid scoring
Queen ~9.3 RPG
Murphy contributing scoring and shooting
Recent Team Forms
Kings (0-4, averaging ~107.8 PPG scored / ~125.5 allowed):
Heavy losses include 130-103 at Spurs (Wembanyama-led), 123-112 vs. Memphis, 128-120 vs. Portland, and an earlier road loss. Defense ranks near the bottom; offense has struggled for consistency despite individual scoring from LaVine, Acuff, and Sabonis’s all-around production. Point differential roughly –17.8.
Pelicans (0-4, ~116 PPG scored / ~122 allowed):
Closer losses early (combined ~10-point margins in first three), then a more decisive 104-91 home loss to Denver in which they shot poorly from three (7-of-30). Williamson has been consistent (20+ in multiple games, 25 vs. Denver). Playing on the second night of a back-to-back. Point differential roughly –5.8.
Key Player Matchups
Domantas Sabonis vs. Zion Williamson / Derik Queen / DeAndre Jordan: Sabonis’s rebounding, playmaking, and interior presence against Williamson’s athleticism and physicality in the paint. With Missi out and Kings’ backup bigs limited, this battle (and rebounding) looms large. Historical head-to-heads have been competitive.
Zach LaVine / Darius Acuff Jr. vs. Dejounte Murray / Trey Murphy III / Herb Jones perimeter defense: Scoring and creation for the Kings’ backcourt against New Orleans’ length and defensive versatility.
Wing scoring/defense: De’Andre Hunter and Achiuwa vs. Murphy, Bey, Mathurin, and Jones.
Three-point shooting and transition will be critical; both teams have defensive vulnerabilities.
Series History
All-time regular-season edge to the Pelicans (roughly 47-37). Last season (2025-26) Pelicans took the series 2-1, including a 26-point home win. Recent meetings have been competitive or lopsided in New Orleans’ favor at home. No playoff history between the franchises.
Betting Trends
Both teams 0-4; Kings covering poorly early, Pelicans mixed ATS.
Home underdogs/favorites trends and last-season ATS numbers vary by source.
Totals have seen action on both sides given defensive struggles vs. scoring potential.
Game Odds
Sacramento Kings 236
New Orleans Pelicans – 6
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, October 28, 2026
