Hoops Nightly
Tip-off · Friday, December 18
SacramentoKings0-0 · away
SAC
8:00 pm ET
NOP
New OrleansPelicans0-0 · home

Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans

8:00 PM ET · 5:00 PM PTSmoothie King Center, New Orleans
When and where to watch

Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans: tip-off Fri, Dec 18, 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM PT) at Smoothie King Center. Local TV: NBCSCA/PCK-SAC (SAC), GCSEN (NOP); NBA League Pass out of market.

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Expected starters

projected from 2025-26 minutes · every lineup today →
Away · SacramentoKings
  1. Keegan MurrayKeegan MurrayF · #1314.0pts · 34.5 min
  2. Zach LaVineZach LaVineG · #819.2pts · 31.4 min
  3. 29Daeqwon PlowdenG-F · #2910.8pts · 26.4 min
  4. De'Andre HunterDe'Andre HunterF-G · #1513.7pts · 26.1 min
  5. 10Nique CliffordG · #108.6pts · 25.1 min
OutBen SimmonsAchilles · LegOutMaxime RaynaudKnee · Leg · RightOutDylan CardwellCalf · Leg · LeftDay-To-DayMalik Monk
Home · New OrleansPelicans
  1. 25Trey Murphy IIIF · #2521.5pts · 35.5 min
  2. Saddiq BeySaddiq BeyF · #4117.7pts · 31.2 min
  3. 24Bennedict MathurinG-F · #2417.6pts · 30.0 min
  4. Zion WilliamsonZion WilliamsonF · #121.0pts · 29.7 min
  5. Herbert JonesHerbert JonesF · #28.9pts · 28.4 min
Full strengthNobody on the injury report

Teams confirm their starters about 30 minutes before tip-off. Until then this is the five the data points to, with anyone ruled out already removed.

Head to head · games that counted

Pelicans lead 2-1

Kings vs Pelicans: the matchup page →
Fri, Apr 3 · 2025-26NOP113SAC117Thu, Mar 5 · 2025-26NOP133SAC123Mon, Feb 9 · 2025-26SAC94NOP120
How to watch · Kings at Pelicans8:00 PM ET5:00 PM PT · Friday, December 18
GCSENNOPNBCSCA/PCK-SACSAC

No national TV: watch on the teams' local broadcasters in-market, or on NBA League Pass out of market (local blackouts apply).

Pelicans marketGCSEN
Kings marketNBCSCA/PCK-SAC (regional sports network — cable, or the network's own app)
RadioSiriusXM · WWL 870 AM / 105.3 FM · Kings Radio
How to watch the Kings →How to watch the Pelicans →
Around the world

Where this game lands

5 of 12 countries get it at a live-friendly hour

AustraliaLiveSat 12:00 PMDisney+ (ESPN)Simmons (SAC)CanadaLiveFri 8:00 PMTSNMathurin (NOP)FranceAlarmSat 02:00beIN SPORTS · beIN SPORTS CONNECTRaynaud (SAC)NigeriaAlarmSat 2:00 AMSportyTVAchiuwa (SAC)IndiaLiveSat 6:30 AMPrime VideoNew ZealandLiveSat 2:00 PMDisney+ (ESPN)PhilippinesLiveSat 9:00 AMPrime VideoGermanyAlarmSat 02:00Sky Sport · Sky GoIrelandAlarmSat 01:00Sky SportsItalyAlarmSat 02:00Sky Sport Basket · Sky GoSouth AfricaAlarmSat 03:00SportyTVUnited KingdomAlarmSat 01:00Sky Sports

Injury report

both teams · read every 15 minutes
Kings4 listed
OutBen SimmonsAchilles · Leg · est. return 2027-10-01
OutMaxime RaynaudKnee · Leg · Right · est. return 2026-11-02
OutDylan CardwellCalf · Leg · Left · est. return 2026-11-02
Day-To-DayMalik MonkAnkle · Leg · Left · est. return 2026-10-21
Pelicansfull strength
Nobody on the Pelicans injury report.