The New Orleans Pelicans secured their first victory of the 2026-27 NBA season with an impressive 132-120 win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night, October 29, at the Smoothie King Center.
Rookie guard Jeremiah Fears delivered an outstanding performance, finishing with 22 points, eight rebounds and a career-high 13 assists to lead the Pelicans past the Kings. His all-around contribution helped New Orleans improve to 1-4 after opening the season with four consecutive defeats.
The Sacramento Kings, meanwhile, continued their difficult start to the campaign. Despite a 34-point performance from Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento fell to 0-5 and remained without a win.
Kings vs Pelicans Game Result
The Pelicans defeated the Kings 132-120 after taking control during the second quarter and extending their advantage in the third.
Sacramento started strongly, leading 30-24 after the opening period. However, New Orleans responded with a dominant 39-point second quarter to take a 63-61 halftime lead.
The Pelicans maintained their momentum after the break, scoring another 39 points in the third quarter while limiting Sacramento to 27. That stretch proved decisive as New Orleans entered the fourth quarter with a 102-88 advantage.
The Kings scored 32 points in the final period, but they could not complete the comeback.
Final Score:
- Sacramento Kings: 120
- New Orleans Pelicans: 132
Jeremiah Fears Leads Pelicans With Career-High 13 Assists
Jeremiah Fears was the standout performer in the Kings vs Pelicans matchup.
The young guard finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and 13 assists in 29 minutes. He shot 9-of-16 from the field and also contributed two steals and four blocks.
His career-high assist total highlighted his ability to create opportunities for teammates while remaining an important scoring option.
Fears played a major role in New Orleans’ offensive performance, helping the Pelicans record 132 points and shoot nearly 60% from the field.
Zion Williamson also contributed 22 points on an efficient 10-of-12 shooting night, while Trey Murphy III added 19 points.
The victory gave the Pelicans their first win of the season and an important boost after a disappointing opening stretch.
Sacramento Kings vs New Orleans Pelicans Match Player Stats
Darius Acuff Jr. led Sacramento with 34 points and 14 assists, putting together an impressive individual performance despite the defeat.
De’Andre Hunter and Precious Achiuwa each scored 24 points, while Zach LaVine contributed 21 points.
Domantas Sabonis recorded nine points and a team-high 15 rebounds but struggled to make a major scoring impact.
Sacramento Kings Player Stats
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darius Acuff Jr. | 34 | 6 | 14 |
| De’Andre Hunter | 24 | 5 | 1 |
| Precious Achiuwa | 24 | 9 | 2 |
| Zach LaVine | 21 | 3 | 5 |
| Domantas Sabonis | 9 | 15 | 7 |
| Andrej Karaban | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Malik Monk | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Acuff’s 34-point performance was the biggest individual scoring total of the game. He also recorded 14 assists, although six turnovers proved costly for Sacramento.
New Orleans Pelicans Player Stats
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Fears | 22 | 8 | 13 |
| Zion Williamson | 22 | 6 | 2 |
| Trey Murphy III | 19 | 5 | 3 |
| Herbert Jones | 16 | 4 | 1 |
| Karlo Matkovic | 12 | 4 | 1 |
| Saddiq Bey | 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | 10 | 3 | 2 |
| Derik Queen | 9 | 2 | 3 |
| Trendon Watford | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| Bryce McGowens | 4 | 1 | 2 |
Fears led New Orleans in assists and rebounds, while Williamson matched him with 22 points. The Pelicans also received valuable contributions from their supporting players, giving them multiple scoring options.
Team Stats: Kings vs Pelicans
New Orleans was more efficient offensively and created additional opportunities through defensive pressure.
| Team Stats | Kings | Pelicans |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 120 | 132 |
| Field Goals | 46-88 | 50-84 |
| Field Goal % | 52.3% | 59.5% |
| Three-Pointers | 12-37 | 10-29 |
| Three-Point % | 32.4% | 34.5% |
| Free Throws | 16-20 | 22-32 |
| Free Throw % | 80.0% | 68.8% |
| Rebounds | 47 | 43 |
| Assists | 31 | 32 |
| Steals | 12 | 18 |
| Blocks | 1 | 6 |
| Turnovers | 25 | 21 |
Although the Sacramento Kings collected four more rebounds, the Pelicans made better use of their offensive possessions.
New Orleans shot 59.5% from the field compared with Sacramento’s 52.3%. The Pelicans also recorded 18 steals and six blocks, creating defensive problems for the Kings throughout the contest.
Sacramento’s 25 turnovers were another major factor in the defeat.
How the Pelicans Beat the Kings
The biggest difference in the game was New Orleans’ ability to respond after falling behind in the first quarter.
Sacramento initially looked comfortable, scoring 30 points in the opening period and building an early advantage. However, the Pelicans increased their offensive intensity in the second quarter.
Their 39-point second-quarter performance completely changed the momentum. Zion Williamson attacked the basket, Murphy provided perimeter scoring, and Fears controlled the offense with his passing.
The third quarter was equally important. New Orleans scored another 39 points to establish a 14-point advantage heading into the final period.
Sacramento continued fighting, but the deficit was too large to overcome.
Kings Remain Winless at 0-5
The loss was another setback for the Sacramento Kings, who dropped to 0-5 to begin the 2026-27 NBA season.
Despite strong individual performances from Acuff, Hunter and Achiuwa, Sacramento could not find enough defensive consistency to stop New Orleans.
The Kings will need to improve their ball security and defensive execution if they want to turn their season around.
Domantas Sabonis’ 15 rebounds demonstrated his impact on the glass, but Sacramento needs more consistent offensive production from its entire lineup.
Pelicans Earn First Win of the 2026-27 Season
For New Orleans, the victory was an important breakthrough.
The Pelicans entered the matchup with a 0-4 record but finally got into the win column after defeating Sacramento by 12 points.
Jeremiah Fears’ performance was particularly encouraging. His combination of scoring, rebounding and playmaking demonstrated the impact he can have on the team’s offense.
Zion Williamson’s efficient shooting and the contributions from Murphy, Herbert Jones and the bench also helped New Orleans secure the victory.
The Pelicans improved to 1-4 and will look to build on this performance in their upcoming games.
Kings vs Pelicans: What’s Next?
Sacramento and New Orleans are scheduled to meet again during the regular season.
According to the supplied schedule, their next meeting is set for January 12, 2027, in Sacramento, followed by another matchup on December 14 and a game in New Orleans on December 19, 2026.
The Kings will be looking to end their losing streak, while the Pelicans will aim to use their first victory as momentum for the remainder of the season.
Final Thoughts
The Kings vs Pelicans game delivered an important result for New Orleans, which earned its first win of the 2026-27 NBA season with a 132-120 victory.
Jeremiah Fears stole the spotlight with 22 points, eight rebounds and a career-high 13 assists. Darius Acuff Jr. led all scorers with 34 points and 14 assists, but his efforts were not enough to prevent Sacramento from falling to 0-5.
For the Pelicans, the victory provides a positive starting point as they look to improve their position in the Western Conference.
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