The Sacramento Kings secured an upset victory against the Toronto Raptors, concluding a five-game road trip where they had previously suffered four consecutive losses. This win ensured they surpassed the 20-win mark for the season.
With only five regular-season games remaining, the Kings will aim to conclude their 2025-26 campaign positively. Despite a likely readiness for the offseason within the organisation, they’ve shown no signs of tanking, holding a 6-7 record in their last 13 games.
Pelicans Game: A Chance to Avoid a Sweep
Many Sacramento fans remember the New Orleans Pelicans’ 6-0 sweep of the Kings in the 2023-24 season. This included a play-in tournament game. The Kings then had a 3-1 season series win last season, but have since fallen back.
The Pelicans have already defeated the Kings twice this season by a combined 36 points. Sacramento needs a win in their upcoming game to avoid another series sweep. The Pelicans are currently on a five-game losing streak and have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Without a first-round pick of their own, the Pelicans may lack motivation. However, the Kings have been rallied at times, so they will likely show up for this game.
Tough Matchup Against the Clippers
The Kings’ final four games of the season present a challenging stretch. The Kings already upset the Clippers in their last meeting thanks to an incredible effort from Precious Achiuwa, DeMar DeRozan, and Maxime Raynaud, but it will be tough to repeat that result.
With the Clippers focused on avoiding ninth place in the West, the Kings will not be able to catch them off guard again.
Battles with the Warriors Loom
The Kings and Warriors have split their season series 1-1 so far. By this point in the season, the Warriors are expected to have star guard Steph Curry back from an extended injury absence.
With a semi-healthy Warriors squad, led by Curry, they will certainly give the Kings some trouble. However, even with Curry in the lineup, this Warriors team is not very dominant, so counting out the Kings before tip-off would be silly.
It is plausible for the Kings and Warriors to split their season series.
The Kings have shown they are capable of pulling off a surprising upset.