Ingram, Valanciunas lift Zion-less Pelicans past Kings and into the playoffs

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Hustle plays and production from up and down the lineup helped the New Orleans Pelicans overcome the absence of leading-scorer Zion Williamson, keep their season alive and avoid a historically significant loss.

Brandon Ingram scored 24 points, Jonas Valanciunas added 19 points and 12 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans booked a spot in the NBA playoffs with a 105-98 victory over the Sacramento Kings in a play-in tournament elimination game on Friday night.

“We stayed together. We we supported each other. We played for each other," Valanciunas said. “We all want to get to the playoffs. And we did it by playing good basketball, by supporting each other, helping each other on defense, on offense, sharing the ball, you know, making a right play. It's fun basketball to play that way.”

Williamson was sidelined by a left hamstring strain that occurred as he reached the 40-point mark in a play-in loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

Undaunted, New Orleans used a balanced approach to improve to 8-5 this season without Williamson. Six players scored 10 or more points, including reserves Larry Nance Jr. (13), Naji Marshall (11) and Jose Alvarado (10).

“You get 34 points from your bench, it’s a great night for them, a tough night for us,” Kings coach Mike Brown said.

Trey Murphy III, starting because of Williamson's absence, added 16 points for New Orleans, which begins a first-round playoff series on Sunday at top-seeded Oklahoma City.

“It feels good. This was a goal at the beginning of the year," Ingram said of clinching a playoff berth. "We had another opportunity today and we came in and everybody contributed.”

De'Aaron Fox scored 35 points, and Domantas Sabonis had 23 points and 14 rebounds for the ninth-seeded Kings, who set up their matchup with New Orleans by defeating No. 10 seed Golden State in their play-in opener.

“We were a little passive offensively and not all of us were aggressive with our play tonight," Brown said, alluding to a combined 4-for-17 shooting from young starters Keegan Murray (4 for 12) and Keon Ellis (0 for 5).

“We have to be able to get the ball in the paint,” added Brown, whose team was outscored 58-44 inside and missed seven of 22 free throws. “You’ve got to be able to finish and you’ve got to get to the free throw line and convert.”

The game was a test of the Pelicans' ability to handle the pressure of a do-or-die game after squandering two previous chances to lock up a playoff berth at home.

New Orleans lost to the Lakers in their regular-season finale on Sunday, missing a chance to clinch the sixth seed, before losing again to the Lakers on Tuesday. They entered their matchup with the Kings facing the possibility of becoming the first 49-win team in more than 50 years (Phoenix in 1972) to miss the NBA playoffs.

Instead, New Orleans improved to 6-0 against Sacramento this season, becoming the first team to go 6-0 in a season (without a playoff series) against an opponent since Denver against Minnesota in 1994-95.

“We deserved it. That’s how we felt coming into this game,” Nance said. “We deserve to be in the playoffs. You don't win 49 games by accident.”

The Pelicans also prolonged a streak of No. 7 seeds never missing the playoffs since the play-in tournament was adopted by the NBA in 2020. Because of their play-in loss to the Lakers, the Pelicans enter the playoffs as an eighth seed.

The Pelicans were sloppy early, committing six first-quarter turnovers that led to 11 Kings points. Sacramento, which was missing Malik Monk (right knee) and Kevin Huerter (left shoulder) from its lineup, led 24-17 after a turnover by Herb Jones led to a layup by Fox, who scored 18 points in the first half.

CJ McCollum's reverse layup and Murphy's 3 helped the Pelicans quickly closed the gap, and New Orleans built a 13-point lead in the second quarter.

Marshall gave the Pelicans a jolt with a 3 and a steal from Murray that he converted into a breakaway dunk. Murray hurt his hip when he fell while losing the ball. He went to the locker room shortly after, but returned for the second half.

Valanciunas' short hook shot and Ingram's layup put the Pelicans up 53-40 late in the half before Fox's 3 helped the Kings trim it to 54-45 at halftime.

But the Pelicans maintained a lead of 10 or more points for much of the second half, going up by as many as 20 in the fourth quarter.

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New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado reacts in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game against the Sacramento Kings in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. The Pelicans won 105-98. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Naji Marshall (8) shoots over Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. The Pelicans won 105-98. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III (25) slam dunks in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game against the Sacramento Kings in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. The Pelicans won 105-98. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) celebrates with forward Naji Marshall (8) in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. The Pelicans won 105-98. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) battles for a rebound with Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. The Pelicans won 105-98. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) goes to the basket in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. The Pelicans won 105-98. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown calls out from the bench in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. The Pelicans won 105-98. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) looks to pass around Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. The Pelicans won 105-98. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) shoots over Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes as Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas blocks out Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis in the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. The Pelicans won 105-98. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) celebrates with forward Naji Marshall (8) in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game against the Sacramento Kings in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. The Pelicans won 105-98. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) shoots between Sacramento Kings forward Sasha Vezenkov (7) and forward Domantas Sabonis (10) in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. The Pelicans won 105-98. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) blocks a shot by Sacramento Kings forward Sasha Vezenkov (7) in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. The Pelicans won 105-98. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis shoots against New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. The Pelicans won 105-98. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, right, celebrates with forward Naji Marshall after Marshall's 3-point basket in the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game against the Sacramento Kings in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Naji Marshall (8) reacts with forward Brandon Ingram after a turnover in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game against the Sacramento Kings in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. The Pelicans won 105-98. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) goes to the basket over New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) in the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) slam dunks against New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (5) in the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) goes to the basket in the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game against the Sacramento Kings in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) goes to the basket over New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum and forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) in the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) drives to the basket between New Orleans Pelicans forwards Brandon Ingram (14) and Herbert Jones in the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) shoots against Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) in the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas shoots against Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) in the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game in New Orleans, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump will return to Manhattan court on Friday as his hush money trial enters its 11th day, capping a frenzied second week of witness testimony.

Lawyer Keith Davidson concluded his testimony Thursday after spending nearly 6 1/2 hours on the stand over two days. He laid out for jurors details of his negotiations with Michael Cohen and the National Enquirer on behalf of Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, not shying away from an election night realization that his efforts might have contributed to Trump's 2016 win.

Forensic analyst Douglas Daul also took the stand, testifying about what he found on Cohen's cellphone. Among other things, Daul said Cohen had nearly 40,000 contacts saved to the device.

Thursday's proceedings included a contempt hearing over whether the former president had again violated his gag order.

Merchan heard from both sides about four more prospective violations, including comments Trump made about the jury. Prosecutors said they were seeking only fines and not jail time for the potential violations. An immediate decision was not made and it was unclear when Merchan would rule.

Prosecutors have said that Trump and others conducted a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election by purchasing and burying salacious stories that might hurt his campaign.

Trump is accused of falsifying internal business records to cover up hush money payments — including $130,000 given to Daniels, a porn actor, by Cohen — recording them instead as legal expenses.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

The case is the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president and the first of four prosecutions of Trump to reach a jury.

Currently:

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Here's the latest:

Despite not yet having testified in Donald Trump's hush money case, Michael Cohen has been very present in the courtroom — in audio recordings of conversations he had and in witness testimony.

On Thursday, jurors heard a taped call between Cohen and Keith Davidson, Stormy Daniels' former attorney, wherein Cohen could be heard telling Davidson about a conversation he'd had with someone believed to be Trump.

“I can’t even tell you how many times he said to me, ‘You know, I hate the fact that we did it.’ And my comment to him was, ‘But every person that you’ve spoken to told you it was the right move,’” Cohen said in the recording.

The panel also heard a recording of Cohen briefing Trump in September 2016 on the plan to buy former Playboy model Karen McDougal’s story. That particular recording included Cohen detailing that he'd spoken to then-Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg about “how to set the whole thing up with funding.”

Cohen, who is the prosecution's star witness, was Trump's lawyer and personal fixer at the time.

Court proceedings in Donald Trump's hush money case will end early on Friday to accommodate an important appointment one of the jurors has in the late afternoon.

Judge Juan M. Merchan announced the scheduling change just before adjourning court on Thursday. Court will end at 3:45 p.m. Friday, about 45 minutes earlier than normal.

Donald Trump is expected to return to court Friday morning for the 11th day of his hush money trial as the second week of witness testimony wraps up.

Thursday's proceedings saw the former president facing yet another contempt hearing, this time over four more prospective violations of his gag order.

While Judge Juan M. Merchan did not immediately rule on the sanctions request from prosecutors, he told defense attorneys he was concerned about three of the potential violations — including comments that Trump made about the political makeup of the jury. Merchan said he wasn't worried about a comment Trump made last week calling former Enquirer publisher David Pecker a “nice guy.”

Prosecutors said they were only seeking fines and not jail time over the potential violations.

Trump is barred under a gag order from speaking publicly about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to the case. He was fined $9,000 on Tuesday over nine online posts.

Former President Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan criminal court before his trial in New York, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Charly Triballeau/Pool Photo via AP)

Former President Donald Trump sits inside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 2 2024. (Mark Peterson/Pool Photo via AP)

Former President Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan criminal court before his trial in New York, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Charly Triballeau/Pool Photo via AP)