Raynaud scores 28 points to help the Kings beat the Pelicans

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Rookie Maxime Raynaud scored 28 points and the Sacramento Kings overcame a 17-point, first-half deficit to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 117-113 on Friday night.

Raynaud was 11 of 14 from the field and made 6 of 7 free throws. He also had eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

Nique Clifford added 23 points and seven assists, and Daeqwon Plowden had 17 points. The Kings have won two in a row to improve to 21-57, while New Orleans has lost seven straight to fall to 25-53.

Jeremiah Fears had 28 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Pelicans. Siddiq Bey added 20 points, and Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III each had 13.

Bey’s 3-pointer gave the Pelicans a 55-38 lead at the 4:25 mark of the second quarter. New Orleans made 9 of 19 shots beyond the arc in the first 24 minutes and had a 66-55 advantage at the break. Fears scored 18 points in the half.

The Pelicans led by seven points after three quarters, and the Kings took the lead on Daeqwon Plowden's three free throws with 2:27 remaining.

Pelicans: Host Orlando on Sunday night.

Kings: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night.

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Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie, center right, reacts in front of center Maxime Raynaud, center left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Alan Greth)

New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi, right, is fouled by Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Alan Greth)

Sacramento Kings' Precious Achiuwa, left, Dylan Cardwell (32), Daeqwon Plowden, Nique Clifford (5) and Maxime Raynaud (42) press a button to "light the beam" after the Kings beat the New Orleans Pelicans in an NBA basketball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Alan Greth)

Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford (5) reacts after hitting a 3-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans Friday, April 3, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Alan Greth)

Sacramento Kings center Dylan Cardwell (32) gestures after making a basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Alan Greth)

DALLAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg didn't get a call, and his coach and a teammate got kicked out of the game trying to stick up for the rookie No. 1 pick of the Dallas Mavericks.

Less than a quarter later, Flagg was the first teenager to score 51 points in an NBA game in Dallas' 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday night.

Flagg scored 24 points in the fourth quarter after coach Jason Kidd and forward Naji Marshall were ejected complaining about what they thought was a no-call when Desmond Bane fouled Flagg.

Kidd was tossed even though he was assessed just one technical foul, while Marshall had gotten another tech at the end of the first half. His second came just moments after Kidd was thrown out.

“It’s great to see,” Flagg said after going 19 of 30 from the field and making all seven of his free throws and topping his previous career high of 49 in a 123-121 loss to Charlotte on Jan. 29.

“I already know that coach has my back and Naji ... I know he has my back for sure out there,” Flagg said. “Just seeing their emotion, seeing them fight for me and fight for the calls. Definitely some emotion, and motivated me even further.”

Flagg exited the game with 45 points, but assistant coach Frank Vogel, filling in for Kidd, told the 19-year-old he was just resting him during a defensive possession.

Vogel called a timeout to get Flagg back in with 3:22 remaining, and Flagg made history a little more than a minute later. He missed a 3-pointer the first time down, then missed a follow attempt on Brandon Williams' miss, got the rebound again and made a corner 3.

On the next Dallas possession, he hit an off-balance shot in the lane while getting fouled to clinch 50, made the free throw and left to a standing ovation.

The Mavericks were down 30 when Flagg started his fourth-quarter scoring barrage in what ended up being their 14th consecutive home loss. It's the longest home losing streak since Dallas lost the first 19 games at since-demolished Reunion Arena in 1993-94.

“It’s always fun getting into that type of mode,” Flagg said. “The basket feels big. My teammates are looking out for you, helping you out. But I like to win. That was my main focus. It’s hard for me to fully enjoy myself out there when we’re down 20, down 10, down 15, for the majority of the game.”

Flagg said he thought it was obvious Bane had fouled him in the opening two minutes of the fourth.

“I think it was warranted,” Flagg said about Kidd's reaction. “I’m not going to lie. I talked to Bane after the play, and he told me he was intentionally trying to foul me. I honestly don’t know how they didn’t see that. Obviously, they must not have had the right view, or they weren’t paying attention. But they missed it.”

Kidd said there was “a lot of excitement in the back” as he watched Flagg with a TV delay, hearing the crowd reaction before the buckets as the former Duke standout was 8 of 12 from the field and 4 of 6 from deep in the fourth.

Flagg's previous career high came against former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel, the fourth overall pick and fellow contender for rookie of the year.

Kidd continues to stump for Flagg to win the same award Kidd won with the Mavs 31 years ago, and dropped a Michael Jordan reference after Flagg's latest milestone. Yes, Jordan was the 1985 Rookie of the Year.

“He’s the rookie of the year,” Kidd said. “It’s unbelievable. The country’s now watching the same thing we get to watch on a daily basis. He’s in rare air. He’s with the GOAT when you talk about MJ and what he did in his rookie year. And as a teenager, to see what Cooper’s doing, just the excitement, the joy, playing the game, win or lose, his spirit, is about winning. Right now we’re not.”

For at least one night, the rookie overshadowed the long home losing streak, even though he couldn't end it.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) is fouled by Orlando Magic's Jamal Cain, rear, as Flagg sinks a basket for his 50th point of the game late in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) reacts to play as referee Sean Corbin, right, jogs upcourt in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, right, is greeted at the bench by assistant coach Frank Vogel, center left, as Orlando Magic's Jase Richardson, left, stands by in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, center, left, talks to Eric Lewis (42) after Kidd was ejected in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) and Dwight Powell, right, celebrate a basket by Flagg in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)