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Zion Williamson is a 284-pound force of nature, but he couldn\u2019t power past Dylan Cardwell when it mattered most.<\/p>\n
The undrafted rookie blocked two shots in the final seconds to help the Sacramento Kings hold on for a 117-113 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans before a crowd of 15,422 at Golden 1 Center.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think (Cardwell) did a phenomenal job,\u201d Kings center Maxime Raynaud said. \u201cI think those two blocks at the end of the game pretty much sealed it. He is an unbelievable defender and an unbelievable energy guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cardwell rejected a driving layup attempt by Williamson with the Kings leading by two with 10.7 seconds remaining. Cardwell then denied a dunk attempt by Jeremiah Fears with 2.9 seconds to go, setting off a raucous celebration inside the arena.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou heard the crowd,\u201d Kings rookie Nique Clifford said. \u201cIt was electric. I feel like that\u2019s just what (Cardwell) brings. He brings that energy, that effort, and he just changes the dynamic of the game with plays like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raynaud had 28 points, nine rebounds and four assists for the Kings (21-57) a day after he was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month.<\/p>\n
Clifford had 23 points, five rebounds and six assists to help the Kings storm back from a 17-point deficit. Daeqwon Plowden came off the bench to score 17 points. DeMar DeRozan had 14 points.<\/p>\n
Fears had 28 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Pelicans (25-53). Saddiq Bey scored 20 points. Jordan Hawkins had 14. Williamson and Trey Murphy III scored 13 points apiece.<\/p>\n
Winning has done wonders for team morale, but it hasn\u2019t helped Sacramento\u2019s odds in the NBA draft lottery. The Kings had the worst record in the NBA as recently as March 9, but after winning seven of their last 14 games they are now tied with the Utah Jazz for the fifth-worst record in the league.<\/p>\n
Kings coach Doug Christie has maintained all along that he is playing to win and he was proud of the effort from his young players.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just makes me smile to watch them,\u201d Christie said. \u201cYou see them on a day-to-day basis. You see what they go through. You see how hard they work … all the things they go through, and then to watch them have that success, you just can\u2019t replicate these moments.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Kings went into the game with only nine players in uniform. Malik Monk (personal reasons) was ruled out along with Patrick Baldwin Jr. (G League), Drew Eubanks (thumb), De\u2019Andre Hunter (eye), Zach LaVine (finger), Keegan Murray (ankle), Domantas Sabonis (knee), Isaiah Stevens (G League) and Russell Westbrook (toe).<\/p>\n
The Pelicans led by 11 in the first quarter and went up by 17 in the second. The Kings came back to cut the deficit to eight in the second period but trailed 66-55 at the halftime break.<\/p>\n
Sacramento got within four on a couple of occasions in the third quarter. The Pelicans went into the fourth quarter with a 92-85 lead, but the Kings opened with a 7-0 run to tie the game on a 3-pointer by Devin Carter.<\/p>\n
New Orleans led by seven with 6:10 to play, but Sacramento battled back once more to tie the game on a basket by Raynaud with 3:59 to go. The Kings went up 112-109 on three free throws by Plowden after Derik Queen was called for a reckless closeout.<\/p>\n
The Pelicans cut the deficit to one on a basket by Bey with 24.6 seconds to go. They had an opportunity to tie the game moments later, but Cardwell rejected Williamson and Fears in the final seconds to preserve the win.<\/p>\n
Domantas Sabonis update<\/p>\n
Sabonis was in the building after weeks away from the team. Sabonis said he spent the past six weeks on crutches after undergoing surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee.<\/p>\n
Sabonis said he is hoping to get back on the court in July to prepare for the 2026-27 season. He appeared in only 19 games this season due to various injuries, averaging 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists.<\/p>\n
Up next<\/p>\n
The Kings will conclude a brief two-game homestand when they play host to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The Clippers (39-38) had won five in a row before suffering back-to-back losses to the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs. They are ninth in the Western Conference, a half-game behind the Blazers for eighth, and have clinched a spot in the play-in tournament.<\/p>\n
The Clippers beat the Kings 131-90 on Dec. 30 in Inglewood and 114-111 on Feb. 6 in Sacramento. The Kings came away with a 118-109 victory over the Clippers on March 14 in Inglewood.<\/p>\n
This story was originally published April 3, 2026 at 10:58 PM.<\/p>\n
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