Dylan Cardwell made a pair of emphatic blocks in the waning moments to cap a stretch of clutch defensive plays as the Sacramento Kings sent the visiting New Orleans Pelicans to a seventh consecutive loss with a 117-113 decision on Friday.
Sacramento (21-57) held a two-point lead when Zion Williamson attacked the rim off the dribble with 10.7 seconds remaining. Cardwell, who had five personal fouls, risked a disqualifying whistle to meet Williamson at the basket and deliver a stiff rejection.
After the Kings’ Nique Clifford missed the second of two ensuing free throws, Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears penetrated looking for a quick basket. Cardwell followed in pursuit, and video review overturned what was intentionally called a foul to deem it a block.
Cardwell’s second block in eight seconds of game time capped a five-block, eight-rebound, six-point performance off the bench. Cardwell complemented the tone-setting offensive play of Maxime Raynaud, who shot 11-for-14 from the floor on the way to 28 points, and Clifford, who finished with 23 points.
Sacramento also received key contributions from Devin Carter, who punctuated his nine-point, six-rebound, three-assist game with two crucial defensive stops.
Carter came from behind Fears to block a 3-point attempt to preserve a 114-111 Kings lead with 37 seconds remaining, one New Orleans possession after Carter forced a turnover when he stepped in front of a driving Derik Queen to draw a charge.
Daeqwon Plowden also stepped up late, capping his 17-point night off the bench by making three free throws that gave Sacramento the lead for good with 2:37 remaining.
New Orleans (25-53), playing the second leg of a road back-to-back, received muted offensive efforts from season-long leading scorers Trey Murphy III and Williamson. Each finished with 13 points, more than eight points fewer than their respective averages.
Fears stepped up to score 28 points off the bench, while Saddiq Bey notched 20 points despite shooting just 1-for-6 from 3-point range. Jordan Hawkins added 14 points in a reserve role for New Orleans, which squandered an 11-point halftime lead.
