Both Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy and Kings coach Luke Walton put in new defenses for their respective teams this season.
New Orleans caught a few opponents off-guard with that early on, but the Pelicans are giving up an average of 112.6 points in regulation during their last five games. That figure would rank them in the bottom 10 if computed during the entire season. Sacramento is 11th in the league in scoring. The Kings always had backcourt scorers, but now they're getting added points from big man Richaun Holmes and Marvin Bagley Jr. The Kings have scored 123 or more points in four of their last six games.
Walton's new defensive approach has been a disaster. The Kings are surrendering an average of 131.7 points during their last seven games, giving up 122 or more points in each of those games. So it's not a surprise Sacramento ranks last in the NBA in points allowed per game. The Pelicans have the firepower to take advantage with Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and Eric Bledsoe.