Tuesday’s matchup could have gone any number of ways.
Jonas Valanciunas was unavailable, the Pelicans had been on the West Coast for over a week and the Kings likely wanted to leave a positive lasting impression playing in front of their home crowd for a final time in this campaign. However, New Orleans overcame a choppy first half, and while not playing their best brand of basketball, posted a milestone 123-109 victory.
Game #79 on the 2021-22 schedule will now forever be tied to the New Orleans franchise securing its first-ever play-in tournament bid, with a chance to make the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.