October 28, 2026 at 5:56 AM UTC

Pregame Analysis

Winless Pelicans Get a Depleted Kings Frontcourt at Home

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New Orleans gets a good chance at its first win against a Sacramento frontcourt that is badly short-handed.

Somebody's zero has to go, and the injury report points toward New Orleans. Sacramento enters 0-4 and without Keegan Murray, whose left ankle injury will be re-evaluated in 10 to 14 days. Losing a key forward hurts the Kings' lineup and their depth up front, and the effects reach well beyond the starting group.

The frontcourt problems are the central issue. Maxime Raynaud is out for at least two more weeks with a knee injury, so Sacramento is thin on bigs, and when Domantas Sabonis sits the Kings are pushed into small lineups. Dylan Cardwell, their best shot blocker, is also out with a calf strain for at least another week. Ben Simmons is done for the season, which means the planned Simmons-Murray frontcourt is gone and the Kings have to build something new on the fly. A Pelicans team looking to attack the paint should find fewer obstacles than usual.

New Orleans is 0-3 and has its own questions, but there are encouraging signs. Trey Murphy's breakout against Denver gave the team some optimism during a slow start. Jordan Poole is listed as probable with an illness. He is 3-of-18 from the field, yet he leads the team at +16 because he keeps contributing as a passer. If he plays, a few more makeable shots would give the offense a lift, and his playmaking should be enough to keep it moving either way.

Both teams are desperate for a first win, but only one is working around this many missing rotation pieces. I expect Sacramento to compete early and then run out of answers inside as New Orleans leans on its home court and the Kings' lack of size. Pelicans 116, Kings 108.

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