One of these teams has a chance to leave its winless start behind Thursday, but the shared 0-4 records conceal different problems. Sacramento has allowed at least 121 points in every game. New Orleans has shown it can score, then managed just 91 against Denver on Wednesday. The Pelicans are the home favorite, with their first task clear: take advantage of a struggling Kings defense without repeating their own latest offensive collapse.
New Orleans needs its offense back
The Pelicans lost 104-91 to Denver on Wednesday, shooting 7-for-30 from three. Zion Williamson scored 25 and helped cut the deficit to five in the fourth quarter, but New Orleans never led.
That result was a sharp change from the Pelicans’ first three games, when they scored 120 against Indiana, 119 at Utah and 135 at Denver. They lost all three, so the offensive output alone wasn’t enough. Still, it shows why Wednesday’s 91 points shouldn’t be the only reference point for what New Orleans can produce against Sacramento.
Jordan Poole’s availability is also worth watching. He left Wednesday’s game with an ankle injury after seven minutes and couldn’t return; the latest report describes him as day-to-day. That leaves a recent concern in the Pelicans’ guard rotation as they play on consecutive nights; it does not establish whether he will be available Thursday.
Sacramento’s productive players need more help at the other end
The Kings lost 130-103 at San Antonio on Tuesday despite 24 points from De’Andre Hunter, 22 from Zach LaVine and a 20-point, 14-rebound, eight-assist game from Domantas Sabonis. The Spurs made 17 of 37 3-pointers.
That was Sacramento’s fourth straight loss, following games in which it conceded 121, 128 and 123 points. The Kings have had individual production to build on, but their defense has left those performances with too much to overcome. Giving New Orleans the same freedom to score would put Sacramento in another game where its offense has to do almost all the repairing.
Our projections also give the Pelicans a rebounding advantage, at about 45 boards compared with 41 for Sacramento. That puts another part of the matchup in focus: Sabonis was productive on the glass Tuesday, but New Orleans is expected to collect more rebounds as a team here. Sacramento needs a broader contribution around him to challenge that outlook.
Sharpest Bets Premium
Get our Kings vs. Pelicans picks.
Unlock our model's best bets for this matchup, plus projections, trends, and matchup analysis. Start with a free 7-day trial, then save 20% every month with code PREVIEW20.
A favorite still looking for a first win
DraftKings makes New Orleans a 5.5-point favorite. The Pelicans’ earlier scoring gives them a plausible way to create separation against this defense, but their losses also show why ending the skid and covering the spread are separate questions. Before Wednesday, New Orleans had lost by three, one and six points. Sacramento has covered once in four games this season; the Pelicans have covered twice.
The total is 236.5 points, and three of each team’s four games have gone over their respective lines. Sacramento’s repeated concessions offer a concrete reason to consider a high-scoring game, especially if the Pelicans’ perimeter shooting improves from Wednesday. New Orleans’ first three scoring performances provide a stronger basis for that possibility than the over counts alone.
The main counterweight is how far the Pelicans’ offense fell in their latest outing. Sacramento has also scored 103 or fewer in two of its four games. A matchup of struggling defenses still needs enough offensive production from both sides to sustain the scoring, and Poole’s fresh ankle concern adds something to monitor rather than assume away.
New Orleans has the clearer opening because Sacramento has yet to contain an opponent’s scoring. The Kings’ response needs to start with making the Pelicans work harder for their points and supporting Sabonis on the glass. That defensive and rebounding test is more useful for assessing the favorite’s margin than treating identical winless records as identical form.
We break down every matchup
Check the latest availability alongside current odds, model projections and premium sharp picks on the NBA betting board.
Odds and projections are snapshots and can change. Wagering involves risk.
More matchups to explore
Unlock our Premium picks. Free.
Get our sharpest picks, team grades, and projected score in your inbox.