NEW ORLEANS, La. — The New Orleans Pelicans finally got Jamahl Mosley his first win as their coach on Thursday night, pulling away from the Sacramento Kings for a 132-120 victory, their first of the season.
Jeremiah Fears ran the show. The young guard finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and 13 assists, a career best, while Zion Williamson matched his 22 points on an efficient 10-for-12 night, every basket coming in the paint. Trey Murphy III chipped in 18.
The difference came from the bench and from Sacramento’s ball security. New Orleans reserves outscored the Kings’ backups 41-8, and the Kings coughed it up 25 times. Domantas Sabonis, who came in as the league’s top rebounder, grabbed 15 boards with seven assists but had seven of those turnovers himself. Rookie Darius Acuff Jr. led Sacramento with a career-high 34 points and 12 assists.
The Pelicans did it shorthanded, playing without Jordan Poole, who has an ankle injury, and Dejounte Murray, who was away for the birth of his child.
The game was tight until late in the first half. Murphy’s free throws put New Orleans ahead 55-54 with 1:45 left before the break, and the Pelicans never trailed again. They led 63-61 at halftime, then broke it open with a 16-2 burst in the middle of the third quarter, with Williamson scoring six and Murphy five during the run.
Both teams came into the night at Smoothie King Center still looking for their first win, each sitting at 0-4. Mosley had said he planned to judge his team in five-game stretches, so the victory came right at the end of his first checkpoint. The win also follows a 26-56 finish for New Orleans last season.
New Orleans stays home to face the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.
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