In a high-stakes showdown, the New Orleans Pelicans (12-10) triumphed over the Sacramento Kings (11-8) with a 127-117 victory in the quarterfinals of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament.
Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans’ charge with an impressive 30-point performance, contributing significantly to New Orleans erasing an early deficit and securing a lead they never relinquished in the second half.
The Pelicans’ win propels them into the semifinals, where they will face the victor of Tuesday night’s clash between the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas on Thursday.
Herb Jones delivered a strong performance with 23 points, complemented by Jonas Valanciunas, who added 18 points, as the Pelicans clinched their third win over the Kings in the past two weeks.
Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox displayed an exceptional effort with 30 points, while Domantas Sabonis recorded a notable triple-double with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Despite their individual performances, the Kings suffered their first loss in the tournament after an undefeated run in the group stage.
