NBA: Zion Williamson, Pelicans send Kings to NBA-high 50th loss

Zion Williamson scored 23 points, and six of his teammates added double-digit scoring as the New Orleans Pelicans pulled away from the Sacramento Kings with a decisive third-quarter surge, earning a 133-123 road victory on Thursday.

Trey Murphy III led the supporting cast with 21 points, while Saddiq Bey added 20, helping the Pelicans snap a two-game losing streak and notch their 20th win of the season.

For Sacramento, Precious Achiuwa matched his career high with 29 points, but the Kings suffered their third straight loss and became the NBA’s first team to reach 50 defeats this season.

The Kings briefly led twice in the third quarter, the last time when Achiuwa converted one of two free throws for an 81-80 advantage midway through the period. New Orleans then went on a 25-point run over the final 5:44 of the quarter, taking a 14-point lead into the fourth.

Bey sparked the streak with two 3-pointers and a dunk, and when Karlo Matkovic finished an alley-oop from Jeremiah Fears, the Pelicans extended their lead to 95-81—a margin they maintained for the rest of the game. Sacramento got as close as 123-116 with 2:44 remaining, but Herbert Jones hit a key 3-pointer to seal the win.

Williamson shot efficiently, making 10 of 14 attempts, while New Orleans dominated from beyond the arc, outscoring Sacramento 36-24. Murphy was 4-for-6 on 3-pointers, while the Kings made just eight of 31 attempts (25.8%).

Fears finished with 13 points, six rebounds, and a team-high six assists, Bryce McGowens contributed 14 points, and Jones and Derik Queen added 12 apiece. Matkovic and Queen matched Williamson with nine rebounds each.

For the Kings, Achiuwa also secured a double-double with 12 rebounds. Russell Westbrook had 19 points and a game-high 10 assists, Drew Eubanks added 15 points and 11 boards, Malik Monk scored 18, DeMar DeRozan tallied 15, and Maxime Raynaud finished with 10.

-Field Level Media/Reuters