NEW ORLEANS — Brandon Ingram hit all 5 of his 3-pointers and led all scorers with 31 factors, and Zion Williamson dominated the paint by scoring 26 factors on 12-for-16 taking pictures to energy the New Orleans Pelicans to a 129-93 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday evening.
“Tonight was a glimpse of what we could possibly be,” mentioned New Orleans coach Willie Inexperienced, who was particularly happy with the Pelicans’ season-high 38 assists. “Z (Williamson) and B.I. (Ingram) are able to doing this, evening in and evening out. It’s good to see them proceed to develop and play off one another.”
Ingram mentioned his offensive synergy with Williamson will proceed to develop as the 2 stars get extra enjoying time collectively. Accidents have short-circuited that within the final three seasons.
“It’s simply communication,” Ingram mentioned. “If someone has it going, you’re going to let him preserve going. I obtained it going (within the third quarter). There’s sufficient time on the basketball clock, and it’s being affected person and getting the perfect shot on the ground. We each have time to assault and play with one another.”
BI and Zion Williamson had been an UNSTOPPABLE duo within the Pelicans’ spectacular win over the Kings 🔥
Ingram: 31 PTS, 5 3PM, 4 REB
Williamson: 26 PTS, 3 STL, 75% FG pic.twitter.com/rzYbHhDN68
— NBA (@NBA) November 21, 2023
The Pelicans trailed 47-43 halfway by the second quarter and used a 44-10 scoring outburst spanning the second and third quarters to construct an 87-57 lead.
Harrison Barnes scored 16 factors and De’Aaron Fox 14 for Pacific Division-leading Sacramento. Fox and Donatus Sabonis, who completed with 10 factors, 10 rebounds and eight assists, didn’t play within the fourth quarter.
Fox refused to position blame on the Kings enjoying the second sport of a back-to-back after a 129-113 win at Dallas on Sunday.
“I imply, pull nothing from this,” he mentioned. “Again-to-backs are regular. We simply didn’t have a very good sport. Credit score to them. They got here out, they’d a very good sport, and we simply performed unhealthy. However, on the finish of the day, you could have video games like this, you attempt to throw that away, and we see them once more in two days. So (we’re) simply attempting to organize for that one.”
Keegan Murray injured his decrease again and didn’t play within the second half. Guard Chris Duarte sustained a left hand damage and didn’t return for the Kings.
“From the begin to the top, they kicked our behind,” Sacramento coach Mike Brown mentioned. “We didn’t present any resistance in any respect, irrespective of who we threw on the market. Zion was a … man tonight, and we had no solutions for him in any respect. Clearly, Brandon Ingram obtained scorching within the second half, however … we couldn’t do something with Zion tonight.”
Ingram had 18 factors on 6-for-10 taking pictures, together with all 4 of his 3s, as New Orleans outscored Sacrament 34-16 third quarter and snapped the Kings’ six-game profitable streak.
Williamson, who missed Saturday’s sport in opposition to Minnesota for relaxation, had 18 factors within the second quarter, taking pictures 8 for 11 because the Pelicans outscored the Kings 37-22 to take a 66-53 halftime lead.
Whereas Ingram struck from the surface, Williamson did his injury inside on drives to his left in opposition to an overloaded Sacramento protection that couldn’t deal with him.
“It’s positively numerous progress that’s been made,” Williamson unhappy. “We each need the identical factor, however we haven’t been on the court docket loads. The extra had been on the court docket collectively, the extra our chemistry will construct in actual time. What (Ingram) did in that third quarter, I used to be shaking my head.”
Williamson scored eight factors from shut vary throughout a 22-4 run that turned a four-point deficit right into a 65-51 lead. Pounding the ball inside helped New Orleans shoot 57.8% (26 of 45) within the first half, and 54.3% (50 of 92) for the sport.
Fox entered the sport having scored not less than 28 factors in all however one sport. He completed 5 of 8 from the ground.
The 36-point victory was probably the most lopsided of the season for New Orleans.
UP NEXT
The groups play once more Wednesday evening in New Orleans.
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