The Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans both enter Thursday night still searching for their first win of the 2026-27 season. The Kings (0-4) visit the Pelicans (0-3) at Smoothie King Center on Thursday, Oct. 29, with tip-off set for 8 p.m. ET. This Kings vs Pelicans preview breaks down the biggest question hanging over the matchup: which winless team finds a way to snap its skid first.
Sacramento Kings Vs New Orleans Pelicans Game Information
- Date: Thursday, Oct. 29
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
- TV/Streaming: NBA League Pass, GCSEN, Pelicans.com
- Series: First meeting of the 2026-27 season
Can Either Team Snap Its Losing Streak?
Sacramento has lost four straight to open the year, including a 130-103 defeat at San Antonio on Wednesday, just one night before this trip to Louisiana. The Spurs beat the Kings 130-103 behind Victor Wembanyama’s 29 points, and Sacramento has now dropped games by double digits in three of its past four outings, including a 128-120 loss to Portland and a 123-112 defeat to Memphis in which Ty Jerome scored 31 points for the Grizzlies.
New Orleans sits at 0-3 but has been competitive in every game. The Pelicans lost 123-120 to Indiana, 120-119 at Utah and 141-135 in overtime at Denver, three losses by a combined eight points. Those numbers suggest New Orleans has been closer to a win than its record shows, while Sacramento’s margins have gone the other direction.
Who Is Out, And What Does It Mean For The Rotations?
Sacramento is dealing with a thin frontcourt. Centers Dylan Cardwell (left calf strain) and Maxime Raynaud (right knee dislocation) are both out, with Raynaud not expected back before Nov. 10. Forward Keegan Murray is sidelined with a leg and ankle injury, and guard Ben Simmons remains out following right Achilles surgery that is not expected to resolve before next October. That leaves the Kings leaning heavily on Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine to carry the offensive and rebounding load.
New Orleans is missing center Yves Missi, who is out with a left knee bruise and targeting a return around Nov. 2. With Missi sidelined, Derik Queen is expected to continue seeing extended minutes at center, where he already leads the Pelicans in rebounding at 8.3 per game.
What Is The Key Matchup To Watch?
Domantas Sabonis against the Pelicans’ undersized frontcourt looks like the matchup that decides this one. Sabonis is averaging 16.5 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game, numbers that already rank among the league’s best at his position, and he will face a New Orleans team that just lost its primary rim protector in Missi. Queen has stepped into extra minutes at center but is giving up size and experience compared to Sabonis on the block.
On the other end, Dejounte Murray’s ball pressure could be a problem for a Kings backcourt playing without Simmons as a secondary creator. Murray is averaging 2.3 steals per game, and New Orleans as a team is forcing 11.7 steals per contest compared to Sacramento’s 6.8, a gap that has fed the Kings’ turnover issues in recent games.
What To Watch
Sacramento sits last in the Pacific Division at 0-4 and has lost its past four games by an average margin that has climbed each night out. New Orleans sits last in the Southwest at 0-3 despite three losses that came down to single possessions. A Kings win would end their skid against a team that has shown it can hang with playoff-caliber opponents like Denver, while a Pelicans win would be their first of the season after three near-misses. Both sides will also be watching how their shorthanded frontcourts hold up on the glass, an area where New Orleans averages 12.3 offensive rebounds and Sacramento grabs 12.5 of its own.
The Kings continue their road trip after Thursday, while the Pelicans look to build on any progress at home. Both teams will have had just one day of rest heading into Thursday’s tip, given Sacramento’s game in San Antonio on Wednesday night.
More NBA news from Total Apex Sports.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
