Jeremiah Fears Leads Pelicans Past Kings 132-120 for First Win; Sacramento Falls to 0-5

Two winless teams met in New Orleans on Thursday night, and only one left that way. Jeremiah Fears had 22 points, a career-high 13 assists and eight rebounds as the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Sacramento Kings 132-120 at Smoothie King Center on Oct. 29 for their first win of the season.

It was also the Pelicans’ first win under new coach Jamahl Mosley, according to the Associated Press. Sacramento fell to 0-5.

Kings vs. Pelicans final score and top performers

Jeremiah Fears fills the playmaking gap

New Orleans was short-handed in the backcourt. The AP reported that Jordan Poole (ankle) and Dejounte Murray (birth of his child) were both out, which put the ball in Fears’ hands. He made the most of it, going 9 of 16 from the field with three 3-pointers, two steals and four blocks, per NBC Sports. He finished two rebounds shy of a triple-double.

NBC Sports noted that Fears had not been great to start the season, which made Thursday’s line stand out even more.

Zion Williamson’s efficient night

Williamson scored 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting, and the AP said every one of his made shots came in the paint. That fit the theme of the night: The Kings Herald reported that New Orleans scored 80 points in the paint and shot 60% from the field.

How did the Pelicans pull away?

Sacramento led 30-24 after the first quarter. New Orleans went ahead for good on Murphy’s free throws that made it 55-54 with 1:45 left in the first half and took a 63-61 lead into the break. A 16-2 run in the middle of the third quarter, led by Williamson and Murphy, broke the game open, according to the AP.

Turnovers did the rest. The Kings gave the ball away 25 times, and The Kings Herald counted 40 Pelicans points off those mistakes, even though Sacramento shot 52% from the field.

Darius Acuff Jr.’s career night in a loss

The bright spot for Sacramento was its rookie guard. Acuff scored 34 points, the most of his young career, the AP reported. Reports differ slightly on his assists: the AP listed 12, while The Kings Herald counted 14 and called it his first career double-double. He also had six turnovers and went 3 of 11 from 3-point range, per The Kings Herald.

Domantas Sabonis, who entered the night leading the NBA in rebounding at 16.5 per game, had 15 rebounds and seven assists, but also seven turnovers.

What’s next for the Kings and Pelicans?

• Kings (0-5): at the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night
• Pelicans: host the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night

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