Our Kings vs Pelicans prediction comes down to two winless teams and one lopsided schedule. Sacramento and New Orleans are both 0-4. The Pelicans are laying six points at home, but they played Denver last night while the Kings sat at home resting. Injuries also hit both teams’ frontcourts, and that shapes where we see value. Below, we break down the line, the market and two picks.
Last Updated: October 29, 2026
Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans — Game Info
| Where | Smoothie King Center, New Orleans LA |
| When | October 29 – 8:00 PM ET |
| TV | Gulf Coast Sports Network, NBC Sports California Plus |
Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview
Availability comes first, and the Kings’ list is long. The official NBA injury report rules out Keegan Murray, Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell and Ben Simmons. Murray is dealing with a left ankle problem, while Simmons is done for the season after Achilles surgery. Losing Raynaud and Cardwell strips Sacramento of two centers. That leaves Domantas Sabonis and Precious Achiuwa to hold up the middle.
New Orleans had not submitted its report as of Thursday morning, so its side of the ledger is provisional. Jordan Poole hurt his ankle in the first half against Denver and did not return after seven minutes. Yves Missi is listed out by ESPN with a left knee bone bruise and did not appear Wednesday. However, other outlets still carry him as day-to-day. Treat both as doubts until the Pelicans file.
The schedule spot matters just as much. New Orleans lost 104-91 to the Nuggets on Wednesday, so this is the second night of a home back-to-back. Sacramento last played Tuesday in San Antonio and had Wednesday off. That rest edge is one of the more dependable situational inputs in the sport.
The efficiency picture tilts the other way. Sacramento owns the league’s worst net rating at roughly minus-17 per 100 possessions, with a defense ranked 29th. The Pelicans entered Wednesday with a top-10 offensive rating, a bottom-eight defense and a top-10 pace. Still, four games is a tiny sample. Both teams are shooting about 30% from three on steady volume, and that figure tends to climb.
For the total, pace and efficiency roughly cancel out. Sacramento’s leaky defense meets a Pelicans offense that has scored well per possession. On the other hand, the Kings’ own offense ranks in the bottom tier, and a team on short rest rarely plays at its best tempo. Blending both sides lands close to the posted number, so we see no clear edge there.
The results back up the ratings gap. The Kings lost road games to the Clippers and Spurs by 25 and 27 points. In contrast, the Pelicans dropped three of four by six or fewer, including an overtime loss in Denver. Zach LaVine leads Sacramento at 27.3 points per game, while Zion Williamson leads New Orleans in scoring. Our Nuggets vs. Pelicans preview covered the New Orleans side of last night’s game.
The market has leaned toward New Orleans. The spread opened at Pelicans -5.5 and now sits at -6.0, and the total slipped a point from 238.5. Our Kings vs. Spurs breakdown has more on Sacramento’s last outing.
These teams split their final two meetings last season. New Orleans won 120-94 in February, but the Kings took the April game 117-113. Raynaud scored 28 points in that one, and he will not play tonight.
Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings | +6.0 (-115) | +190 | O 237.5 (-110) |
| Pelicans | -6.0 (-105) | -230 | U 237.5 (-110) |
Odds accurate as of October 29, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NBA Odds – Futures – Props
Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Kings | 25% | 75% | Pelicans |
See the latest NBA Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Kings vs. Pelicans Prediction — What Changes With Three Sacramento Bigs on the Shelf?
Our strongest read sits in the player market rather than the side. Sabonis is averaging 16.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists through four games, and he pulled down 14 boards in Tuesday’s blowout loss in San Antonio. With Raynaud and Cardwell both sidelined, there are fewer bodies around him competing for the same misses. Murray’s absence removes another long forward from the glass.
The matchup helps, too. New Orleans plays faster than league average, which means more possessions and more missed shots to clean up. If Missi sits again, the Pelicans lean on Derik Queen and veteran DeAndre Jordan at center. Meanwhile, both offenses have been missing threes at a high clip, and long misses create long rebounds that a center reads well. A tired home team on the second night of a back-to-back is also less likely to crash hard.
The case against is minutes. Sacramento has been blown out twice, and a lopsided fourth quarter could send Sabonis to the bench early. Queen leads the Pelicans in rebounding and is a real body in the paint. Prop prices carry no line history, so there is no market confirmation here, which keeps this a lean. Still, the price asks for less than a coin flip on a number he has been clearing.
The Pick: Domantas Sabonis To Record 15+ Rebounds (+110)
Kings vs. Pelicans Prediction — What Does a 91-Point Night Say About Tonight?
The spread has moved toward New Orleans, with 75% of spread tickets on the Pelicans. That move runs with the public, which is a weak signal on its own. However, the price on the Sacramento side has grown more expensive since the move. That suggests money arriving on the Kings once the number crossed the half point. New Orleans scored just 91 points Wednesday, and Poole’s status adds another doubt on short rest.
Recent history on short rest is also worth noting. New Orleans played a back-to-back last week as well, losing by one point in Utah and then in overtime at Denver the next night. The Pelicans have stayed close, but they have not closed. A rested opponent fits a game decided late, when tired legs tend to show. The risk is obvious, though. Sacramento’s net rating is the worst in the league, and its two road games ended in 25- and 27-point losses. This read also leans on Sabonis staying on the floor, so it is not independent of our first pick. The edge is thin, but the rest gap and the price behavior point the same way.
The Pick: Kings +6.0 (-115)
Our Final Word on Kings vs. Pelicans
One winless team will leave Smoothie King Center with its first victory, and the Pelicans’ injury filing could still shift this number before tip-off. Domantas Sabonis To Record 15+ Rebounds at +110 is our top play because Sacramento’s missing centers leave him as the main rebounder. Kings +6.0 at -115 is our second play because New Orleans is on the second night of a back-to-back while Sacramento comes in rested.
NBA Kings vs. Pelicans FAQ: October 29, 2026
What time does the Kings vs. Pelicans game start?
The Kings and Pelicans tip off at 8:00 PM ET on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. That is 5:00 PM Pacific for Sacramento fans, with the Kings visiting on the Pelicans’ second night of a back-to-back.
What channel is the Kings vs. Pelicans game on?
The game airs regionally on Gulf Coast Sports Network in the Pelicans’ market and on NBC Sports California Plus in the Kings’ market. Both are regional sports networks rather than national broadcasts. Viewers in other areas should check their local listings and provider lineups before tip-off.
Is Keegan Murray playing tonight?
No. Keegan Murray is listed out on the official NBA injury report with a left ankle injury. Sacramento will also be without Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell and Ben Simmons, which thins the Kings’ frontcourt rotation considerably for this game in New Orleans.
Who won the last meeting between the Kings and Pelicans?
Sacramento won the last meeting, beating New Orleans 117-113 on April 3, 2026. Maxime Raynaud and Jeremiah Fears each scored 28 points in that game. The loss was the Pelicans’ seventh straight at the time. New Orleans had won the February meeting 120-94, so the clubs split their final two games last season.
What are the Kings’ and Pelicans’ records this season?
Both teams are 0-4 entering Thursday’s game. Sacramento sits 15th in the Western Conference and New Orleans is 14th. Each club is riding a four-game losing streak, so one of them will pick up its first win of the 2026-27 season tonight.