NewsPelicans Beat Kings 132–120: Fears' 13 Assists and 25 Sacramento Turnovers
New Orleans earned its first win of the 2026–27 NBA season, beating Sacramento 132–120 on October 29. Jeremiah Fears had 22 points and 13 assists as the Pelicans turned Kings mistakes into scoring chances.
Representative licensed photograph; not a photo of the reported event or the named people. Photo: Engin Akyurt / Pexels (Pexels free-use license).
The New Orleans Pelicans beat the Sacramento Kings 132–120 on Thursday, October 29, 2026, ending their winless start under new coach Jamahl Mosley. Jeremiah Fears delivered 22 points, a career-high 13 assists and eight rebounds, while Zion Williamson added 22 points on 10-for-12 shooting. Sacramento fell to 0–5; New Orleans improved to 1–4.
Pelicans vs. Kings final score and quarter-by-quarter breakdown
Sacramento led 30–24 after one quarter, but New Orleans outscored the visitors 39–31 in the second and 39–27 in the third. That 78–58 advantage across the middle two quarters was the central swing in a game the Pelicans eventually won by 12. The Kings won the fourth quarter 32–30, too little to erase the deficit.
The official NBA game summary and box score records 12 lead changes and five ties. New Orleans took the lead for good late in the first half, then created separation with a 16–2 run during the third quarter. Those stretches explain more than the final margin alone.
Why did New Orleans win? Turnovers, paint scoring and bench depth
The Kings committed 25 turnovers, and the NBA game statistics credit New Orleans with 40 points off turnovers. The Pelicans also scored 80 points in the paint to Sacramento's 62, showing how frequently the home team converted opportunities near the rim. These are official game totals, not estimates of what might have happened with fewer mistakes.
Bench production widened the gap. New Orleans' reserves scored 41 points, compared with just eight for Sacramento's bench. Even with both clubs producing offense, the Pelicans had more ways to sustain scoring when their starters rested. The combined effect of extra possessions and reserve contributions was decisive.
Fears, Williamson and Acuff: who stood out?
Fears paired his 22 points with 13 assists and eight rebounds, putting him two rebounds short of a triple-double. Williamson's 22 points came on 10 made field goals in 12 attempts, all 10 of his baskets coming in the paint, according to the Associated Press game report carried by FOX Sports. Trey Murphy III scored 18.
Sacramento's Darius Acuff Jr. scored 34 points and recorded 12 assists in the official recap, a strong individual performance in a losing effort. Domantas Sabonis grabbed 15 rebounds but also committed seven turnovers. New Orleans played without Jordan Poole, listed with an ankle issue, while Dejounte Murray was away for the birth of a child. Those absences make the distribution of Pelicans production particularly notable.
What comes next for the Kings and Pelicans?
Both teams are scheduled to play again on Saturday, October 31: Sacramento visits Memphis, and New Orleans hosts Atlanta. These are the next games listed in the October 29 NBA recap, not predictions of results. The immediate question for the Kings is whether they can protect the ball better; for New Orleans, whether Fears' playmaking and the bench's scoring can carry over.
For more relevant context, see our earlier Nuggets–Pelicans overtime recap and Spurs–Kings game breakdown. Both are separate games, not reports of this October 29 result.
Sources and verification
- NBA.com: official Sacramento–New Orleans final score, quarter totals and team statistics
- Associated Press via FOX Sports: player statistics, injuries and postgame reporting
Editorial note: Facts were checked against the linked sources on October 30, 2026. Future developments and unconfirmed details are not stated as established facts. For corrections, use our contact page.