Pelicans give good effort but get same losing result against Kings

Yes, the game was meaningless in the standings.

Yes, players have a tendency to play more relaxed with no pressure on them.

Yes, players who normally do not get many minutes are going to play hungry.

Still, you had to enjoy watching the effort given by the players who played for the New Orleans Pelicans.

None of those players were named Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Jrue Holiday or JJ Redick, all of whom watched.

It was a pleasant sight to see New Orleans players laying out, diving on the floor for loose balls.

Of course, it did not change anything as the Pelicans lost again to Sacramento, 112-106.

New Orleans came out and played with energy, shooting 50 percent in the first quarter to take a 29-27 lead.

Lonzo Ball, who had struggled mightily in Orlando, suddenly broke out, scoring 10 points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.

Jahlil Okafor, who had not played a minute in six previous games in Orlando, got his chance late in the first quarter.

To say he took advantage of it would be a vast understatement.

Ever the team player who bided his time quietly, Okafor was anything but quiet, going 7-of-7 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line for 16 points, two rebounds, a block and an assist in 14 minutes in the first half.

The Pelicans shot 58.5 percent in the first half and trailed 62-61. Again, defense was an issue but effort was not.

Frank Jackson came off the bench to score 12 points in the half.

New Orleans struggled in the third quarter as Sacramento outscored the Pelicans 32-23 to take a 94-84 lead going to the final frame.

The Pelicans never got close enough to threaten in the final frame as the Kings won for just the second time in the bubble, both times against New Orleans.

Okafor led New Orleans with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting while Jackson added 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field. Ball finished with 16 points and E’Twaun Moore had 14 points.

The bad news was that starters Nicolo Melli and Josh Hart combined to go 2-for-18 from the field in a brutal performance. Hart, as always, played hart, pulling down 10 rebounds.

New Orleans lost despite shooting 52 percent from the field. The Kings owned the boards by a 46-34 margin, including a 14-5 bulge on the offensive glass. The Kings committed 20 turnovers but the Pelicans gave it away 19 times.

A final game for the 2019-2020 season arrives Thursday night against the home team, the Orlando Magic.

Then, a young team will leave the bubble to prepare for a short offseason.

Then, David Griffin will make a decision on the future of the franchise. Will there be a change on the bench.

Then, key roster decisions will be made to help shape the future of the franchise.

Tuesday night, the version of the New Orleans Pelicans we witnessed was somewhat fun to watch.

Tuesday night also revealed, once again, areas that this team must focus on prior to next season—working harder and communicating better on defense and valuing the basketball while making better decisions on offense to reduce turnovers.