Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans predictions, odds: Who wins NBA play-in game?
The New Orleans Pelicans will host the Sacramento Kings in an elimination round of the play-in tournament at 8:30 p.m. Friday (TNT).
The winner will be the No. 8 seed in the NBA playoffs. It'll face No. 1 OKC in the first round with Game 1 set for 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
New Orleans won all five regular-season games against Sacramento, including one in the quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament. The Pelicans won those games by an average of 19.2 points.
New Orleans suffered a 110-106 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the play-in tournament on Tuesday. Zion Williamson suffered a left hamstring injury, and he has been ruled out for Friday.
Sacramento earned a 118-94 home win over Golden State in an elimination round of the play-in tournament on Tuesday. The Kings will be without Malik Monk (knee) and Kevin Huerter (shoulder) on Friday.
Here's a look at how the play-in matchup is projected to play out:
Play-in tournament picks: Lakers at Pelicans | Warriors at Kings | Heat at 76ers | Hawks at Bulls | Kings at Pelicans | Bulls at Heat
First-round picks: Celtics vs Heat | Knicks vs 76ers | Bucks vs Pacers | Cavaliers vs Magic | Thunder vs Pelicans | Nuggets vs Lakers | Timberwolves vs Suns | Clippers vs Mavericks
More: 2024 NBA playoffs: Complete schedule, bracket breakdown, how to watch
The Oklahoman: Sacramento 115, New Orleans 110
Justin Martinez writes: "New Orleans swept the regular-season series in dominating fashion. But Williamson's absence is a major concern, and so is the way the Sacramento looked on Tuesday. Keegan Murray provided floor spacing, Domantas Sabonis dominated the glass and Keon Ellis brought tenacity on defense. I'll take Sacramento over New Orleans, which is tied for the fewest home wins out of the remaining play-in/playoff teams."
BetMGM: Sacramento Kings (-1.5) are favored to beat the New Orleans Pelican
Sacramento is a 1.5-point favorite to defeat New Orleans on Friday.
Over/under: 210.5
Moneyline: Sacramento -120 | New Orleans +100
ESPN: New Orleans Pelicans have a 64.4% chance to beat the Sacramento Kings
ESPN gives New Orleans a 64.4% chance of winning on Friday.
More: OKC Thunder clinches top seed in West for NBA Playoffs with rout of Dallas Mavericks
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans picks, odds in play-in game
