Kings rally past Pelicans 117-113 behind Raynaud

The Sacramento Kings defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 117-113 on Friday, April 3, 2026, at Golden 1 Center, closing with a strong fourth quarter behind Maxime Raynaud, who finished with 28 points and nine rebounds. Sacramento erased an 11-point halftime deficit and outscored New Orleans 62-47 after the break to come away with the win.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

New Orleans set the early pace, taking a 30-21 lead after one quarter. The Pelicans moved the ball well and found efficient offense from the perimeter, building separation while Sacramento struggled to match that rhythm on the other end.

Second Quarter

The offense picked up for both teams in the second, but the Pelicans maintained control. New Orleans added 36 points in the period and carried a 66-55 advantage into halftime. Sacramento scored 34 in the quarter to stay within range, yet the Kings still had work to do after allowing 66 first-half points.

Third Quarter

The Kings began to shift the game in the third. Sacramento outscored New Orleans 30-26 in the period, trimming the deficit to 92-85 entering the fourth. That stretch gave the home team momentum, especially as its interior scoring and rebounding presence started to show up more consistently.

Fourth Quarter

Sacramento completed the comeback with its best two-way stretch of the night. The Kings outscored the Pelicans 32-21 in the fourth quarter, tightening up defensively while continuing to convert inside. New Orleans, which had controlled much of the first half, could not hold the lead as Sacramento took control late and finished the game with a 62-47 second half.

Key Performers

Sacramento Kings:
Maxime Raynaud led Sacramento with 28 points and nine rebounds, delivering the kind of efficient interior production the Kings needed during their second-half push. Nique Clifford added playmaking value with seven assists as Sacramento finished with 30 team assists and shot 51.1 percent from the field.

New Orleans Pelicans:
Jeremiah Fears matched the game high with 28 points and added eight rebounds and six assists in an all-around performance. The Pelicans also benefited from strong shooting numbers overall, finishing at 47.6 percent from the field, 41.2 percent from three-point range, and 90.5 percent at the free-throw line, but their offense slowed significantly in the fourth.

NerdSports Stat: Sacramento won despite trailing by 11 at halftime and making only 10 three-pointers, offsetting New Orleans’ plus-4 edge from deep by finishing plus-10 on the glass and plus-6 in field goals made.

Game Analysis

This game turned on Sacramento’s steady second-half execution. The Kings were more effective on the glass, finishing with a 46-36 rebounding edge, and that advantage helped them generate enough extra control in a close game. Their 46 made field goals compared with 40 for New Orleans proved especially important, considering the Pelicans were more accurate from three and at the line.

Sacramento’s ball movement also stood out. The Kings recorded 30 assists on 46 made shots, a strong indicator of how much cleaner their offense looked once they settled in after halftime. Even without a major edge from long range, they created enough quality possessions to chip away in the third and then pull ahead in the fourth.

For New Orleans, the first half offered a strong blueprint. The Pelicans scored 66 points before the break and looked comfortable offensively, but the final quarter told a different story. A 21-point fourth quarter left the door open, and Sacramento capitalized by combining timely stops with efficient scoring around the basket.

Closing Context

The win moves Sacramento to 21-57 overall and 14-25 at home, while New Orleans drops to 25-53 and 9-30 on the road. With both teams in the closing stretch of the regular season, this result gives the Kings a positive finish at Golden 1 Center and extends the Pelicans’ late-season frustration away from home.

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