@ New Orleans Pelicans February 13 (5 PM PST/8 PM EST)
Ahh, the New Orleans Pelicans. The team that went a perfect 6-0 against us. The team that ended our In-Season Tournament run. The team that eliminated us from the Play-In Tournament.
As we've discussed, the Kings play the Pelicans three times in six days from February 8 to February 13. So, why is it that this game is the most important of the three games?
You may have noticed that this three-game run takes place right before the All-Star break. The game at the Smoothie King Center on February 13 is the last of those three games, and it's the last one before the Kings take an intermission for the All-Star break.
Not only do the Kings need to try and expel their demons for the third time in six days. But they also need to find the motivation to finish the first half of the season strong rather than stumbling their way into the break (as many teams tend to do).
As I wrote in the article I hyperlinked above, I don't think the Pelicans are as tough of a matchup for the Kings as they were last year. So, I definitely think this game is winnable. They just need to go out and do it.