Imagine a team spiraling into a historic losing streak, while their opponents find redemption in a dominant performance. That’s exactly what happened when the New Orleans Pelicans handed the Sacramento Kings their 13th consecutive loss, a 120-94 blowout that left fans and analysts alike scratching their heads. But here’s where it gets even more intriguing: this wasn’t just any loss for the Kings—it marked their longest losing streak since the franchise relocated to Sacramento in 1985. Talk about a rough patch!
Trey Murphy III was the star of the night, sinking five 3-pointers en route to a 21-point performance. His teammate, Jeremiah Fears, wasn’t far behind, scoring 14 of his 20 points in a second-half surge that sealed the deal for the Pelicans. And this is the part most people miss: Murphy has been on fire lately, hitting 23 of his last 40 three-point attempts (72.5%) over the past three games. That’s the kind of consistency that turns heads.
Zion Williamson also made his presence felt, contributing 18 points on an efficient 7-of-11 shooting night, along with six assists. But let’s not forget the Kings’ bright spots—Maxime Raynaud, the 7-foot-1 rookie, notched a double-double with 21 points and a career-high 20 rebounds, his eighth such performance this season. Russell Westbrook added 17 points, and in doing so, became just the 14th player in NBA history to surpass 27,000 career points. Controversial take: While Westbrook’s milestone is impressive, is it enough to overshadow the Kings’ mounting struggles?
The game’s turning point came early in the first quarter when DeMar DeRozan gave the Kings a brief 20-15 lead with a driving layup. But the Pelicans responded with a 25-6 run, fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers from Bryce McGowen and Murphy, and eight points from Williamson. From there, Sacramento never truly recovered, despite Westbrook’s step-back jumper that briefly cut the deficit to nine points in the first half.
It’s worth noting that the Kings were without key players Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, Malik Monk, and Domantas Sabonis, who collectively average 62 points per game. Is this losing streak a result of bad luck, injuries, or something deeper? Meanwhile, the Pelicans snapped their own streak of 14 consecutive games decided by 10 points or fewer, finally securing a decisive victory.
Looking ahead, the Kings will try to regroup as they face the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, while the Pelicans host the Miami Heat the same night. What do you think—can the Kings turn their season around, or is this just the beginning of a longer slump? Let us know in the comments!
