NBA Play-In: Ingram and Valanciunas lead Pelicans to victory over Kings, securing playoff spot without Zion

The New Orleans Pelicans secured their spot in the NBA playoffs with a thrilling 105-98 victory over the Sacramento Kings in a play-in tournament elimination game on Friday night. Despite missing their star player Zion Williamson, who was out with a strained left hamstring, the Pelicans showed resilience and depth in their lineup.

Brandon Ingram led the charge with 24 points, while Jonas Valanciunas added 19 points and 12 rebounds to help secure the win. The Pelicans showcased a balanced scoring attack with six players scoring in double digits, including reserves Larry Nance Jr., Naji Marshall, and Jose Alvarado.

The game was a test of the Pelicans’ ability to handle pressure, as they had previously missed two opportunities to lock up a playoff berth. However, they rose to the occasion and improved to 6-0 against the Kings this season, becoming the first team to achieve such a feat since 1994-95.

With the win, the Pelicans extended a streak of No. 7 seeds never missing the playoffs since the play-in tournament was adopted in 2020. They will now face the top-seeded Oklahoma City in the playoffs as the eighth seed.

Despite a slow start with early turnovers, the Pelicans managed to build a double-digit lead in the second quarter, thanks to contributions from Trey Murphy III and Naji Marshall. The Kings fought back, but ultimately fell short as the Pelicans held on for the win.

The victory was a testament to the Pelicans’ depth and resilience, as they overcame the absence of Williamson to secure their spot in the playoffs. Fans can now look forward to an exciting playoff matchup as the Pelicans continue their postseason journey.