CapRadio Staff, The Associated Press
The Sacramento Kings fell to the New Orleans Pelicans 98-105 in a play-in tournament elimination game on Friday night.
The Pelicans, who have now earned a spot in the NBA playoffs, won without leading scorer Zion Williamson. The power forward strained his left hamstring right as he reached the 40-point mark in a play-in loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
Six Pelicans players scored 10 or more points, including reserves Larry Nance Jr., Naji Marshall and Jose Alvarado. Trey Murphy III, starting because of Williamson’s absence, added 16 points for New Orleans.
De’Aaron Fox scored 35 points for Sacramento, and Domantas Sabonis had 23 points and 14 rebounds. Shooting guards Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter did not play due to a MCL strain and a shoulder injury, respectively.
Murray appeared to hurt himself in the second quarter when he fell while losing the ball, and went to the locker room shortly after. He returned to the court in the third quarter to finish out the game.
The Kings, who were seeded ninth in the West ahead of Friday’s game, are now the first 49-win team in more than 50 years (Phoenix in 1972) to miss the NBA playoffs.
This was the Kings’ sixth game — and loss — against the Pelicans this season. New Orleans is now the first team to go 6-0 against an opponent during a season since Denver did so against Minnesota in 1994-95.
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