Pelicans vs Kings para sa No. 8 spot

NEW ORLEANS — Lalabanan ng Pelicans ang Sacramento Kings na wala ang kanilang batang kamador sa huling NBA play-in tournament game.

Hindi maglalaro si forward Zion Williamson dahil sa kanyang left hamstring strain na nangyari sa kabigu­an ng Pelicans sa Los Angeles Lakers sa aga­wan sa No. 7 spot sa Western Conference first-round playoffs.

 Ang mananalo sa pagitan ng New Orleans at Sac­ra­mento ang sasagupa sa naghihintay na No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder sa opening round.

“He’s upset. Disappointed. No way around it. It was tough news. We are all rallying around him, and going to support him as best as we can,” ani Pelicans coach Willie Green sa 23-anyos na si Williamson.

Dalawang player din ng Kings ang may injury.

Ito ay sina guard Malik Monk (right knee sprain) at guard/forward Kevin Huerter (left shoulder surgery).

Sa Miami, haharapin ng Heat ang Chicago Bulls na wala si injured star guard Jimmy Butler sa bakbakan pa­ra sa No. 8 berth sa Eastern Conference playoffs.

Nagkaroon si Butler ng MCL injury sa first period sa 104-105 kabiguan ng Miami sa Philadelphia 76ers.

Ang mananalo sa Heat at Bulls ang haharap sa No. 1 seed Boston Celtics sa first-round playoff series.

Bukod kay Butler, hindi rin maglalaro para sa Mia­mi si point guard Terry Rozier na may strained neck.

Sinibak ng Bulls ang Atlanta Hawks, 131-116, tampok ang career-high 42 points ni Coby White.

Makakabawi ang Chicago sa Miami na nagpatalsik sa kanila sa 2023 play-in game.

“I remember that plane ride back home vividly, everybody was just frustrated,” ani Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan. “That feeling sucked. I know for me that was one thing that was on my mind once I realized we were going back to Miami, not to have that same feeling.”