De'Aaron Fox leads Sacramento Kings past host Pelicans

De'Aaron Fox had 23 points to lead five Sacramento scorers in double figures as the visiting Kings defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 113-109 on Friday night.

Richaun Holmes scored 21 points, former Pelican Buddy Hield had 20 off the bench, Harrison Barnes added 18 points and 12 rebounds and Tyrese Haliburton had 17 for the Kings.

Jonas Valanciunas had his fourth consecutive double-double with 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Pelicans. Brandon Ingram scored 22, Devonte' Graham had 16, rookie Herbert Jones added 12 and Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 11.

The Kings held a 13-point lead early in the third quarter before Ingram heated up.

He made three straight baskets to get the Pelicans within two points before Fox answered with a basket.

Trey Murphy III's 3-pointer put New Orleans ahead and Ingram added another basket for a 72-69 lead.

Hield tied the score with a 3-pointer and added three free throws before Davion Mitchell's basket completed an 8-0 run that gave Sacramento a 77-72 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Alexander-Walker's layup pulled the Pelicans within 81-78, but the Kings extended the lead to 90-80 on a layup by Haliburton.

New Orleans moved within six points on five occasions before four points from Fox with a Haliburton basket in between them gave Sacramento a 107-95 lead with 1:20 left.

Graham sandwiched two 3-pointers around one by Ingram as the Pelicans got within 107-104 with 23.2 seconds left.

Holmes, Hield and Barnes each made two free throws each to keep the Kings on control.

Sacramento led by 10 points on three occasions in the early going before Graham's 3-pointer with 4.8 seconds left pulled New Orleans within 33-26 at the end of the first quarter.

The Kings took a six-point lead twice before Valanciunas made two free throws to tie the score at 46.

The score was tied again at 48 before Sacramento scored 11 straight points as New Orleans went scoreless for the final 3:22, leaving the Kings with a 59-48 halftime lead.