Pelicans dominate Kings in all phases in 129-93 win

The Sacramento Kings came into Smoothie King Center on a six-game win streak.

That streak is over.

The Pelicans played with energy on both ends of the floor from start to finish, shared the ball brilliantly, and their stars play like stars. That was a lethal combination.

The Pelicans dominated the final three quarters in an easy 129-93 victory over the Kings Monday night.

Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram took turns with huge quarters. Williamson scored 18 points in the second quarter and Ingram scored 18 in the third quarter.

New Orleans came out on fire, making its first nine field goal attempts.

Jose Alvarado entered the game with 4:03 to play in the first quarter, making his season debut and he received a rousing ovation from the crowd. He looked the part of a player who needs to knock off the rust but it was great to see him on the floor.

The Kings closed the quarter on a 16-6 run to take a 31-29 lead going to the second quarter.

Sacramento outscored New Orleans 13-0 in points off turnovers in the quarter.

The second quarter belonged to New Orleans, outscoring the Kings 37-22 to take a 66-53 halftime lead.

The Pelicans used outstanding defense to create offense in the second quarter.

New Orleans went on a 13-0 run to take a 56-47 lead and finished the half on a 23-6 run.

The Pelicans scored on their final seven possessions of the half.

It was the best half of the season for Williamson, who scored 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field, including scoring 18 points in the second quarter. Ingram was good as well with 13 points, despite the Kings playing him in very physical fashion.

The Pelicans torched the nets, shooting 58 percent from the field and made 10-of-11 free throws.

New Orleans controlled the boards by a 29-18 margin.

Domantas Sabonis picked up his fourth personal foul with 10:47 to play in the third quarter.

The Kings came out of the break with a totally different defensive approach, running an extra player at Williamson and whenever he approached the paint, sometimes he saw a third defender.

It did not matter.

Zion, who was scoreless in the quarter, played excellent defense and played the role of facilitator in excellent fashion.

While Williamson dominated in the first half, Ingram took over in the third quarter, scoring 18 points in the period as New Orleans outscored Sacramento 34-16 to take a 100-69 lead heading to the fourth quarter.

Perhaps the best indication of how well New Orleans played was the fact that everyone who saw the floor for the Pelicans had at least one assist. The Pelicans had 38 assists on 50-made field goals.

The Pelicans dominated in all phases, crushing Sacramento 55-36 on the boards.

New Orleans shot 54 percent from the field, 43 percent from 3-point range and 81 percent from the free throw line while holding the Kings to just 38 percent shooting from the field and 24 percent from 3-point range. The Kings shot just 67 percent from the free throw line.

The Pelicans had 17 fast break points to nine for the Kings and New Orleans controlled the paint, where it outscored Sacramento 64-40.

Herb Jones was solid with 18 points and seven rebounds.

Now 7-7, the Pelicans face the Kings again Wednesday night at Smoothie King Center.