Two teams tied for ninth place in the Western Conference playoff race with 18 games remaining go head-to-head Wednesday night when the New Orleans Pelicans visit the Sacramento Kings.
The Pelicans have won two straight and the Kings seven of 10 leading into the teams' second of three regular-season meetings.
The teams will meet again March 22 at New Orleans, with the Pelicans, a 117-115 winner when the playoff hopefuls squared off in January, needing to win one of two to clinch the season series and potentially a critical tiebreaker.
The game will be Zion Williamson's first in the California capital since his injury-delayed NBA debut on Jan.