Sacramento Kings vs New Orleans Pelicans
Tip-off 8:00 PM ET (1:00 AM UTC) at Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA.
Game information
- Date
- Friday, December 18, 2026
- Tip-off
- 8:00 PM ET · 1:00 AM UTC
- Status
- Scheduled
- Arena
- Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
- TV broadcast
- NBA League Pass
- Radio
- SiriusXM
- Competition
- Week 9
- Official game ID
- 0022600394 (20261218/SACNOP)
- Records
- SAC 1-8 · NOP 4-5
Sacramento Kings vs New Orleans Pelicans preview
The Sacramento Kings (1-8) visit the New Orleans Pelicans (4-5) at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Friday, December 18, 2026, tipping off at 8:00 PM ET. It's a Week 9 game of the 2026-27 NBA regular season.
Both clubs play in the Western Conference, making this an early-season measuring stick in the race for playoff seeding. New Orleans Pelicans have 0 titles and Sacramento Kings have 1.
The game is carried on NBA League Pass, with radio coverage on SiriusXM. Fans outside the local markets can stream it through NBA League Pass, subject to blackout rules — see our guide to watching the NBA legally.
Keys to the game
- Home court: New Orleans Pelicans host at Smoothie King Center, where crowd energy and familiarity with the rims and floor can swing close games.
- SAC on the road: Sacramento Kings's first test away from home in Week 9.
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass.
- Early-season stakes: records reset to 1-8 and 4-5, so every result matters for seeding.
Team comparison
| SAC | NOP | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 1-8 | 4-5 |
| Conference | Western | Western |
| Division | Pacific | Southwest |
| Arena | Golden 1 Center | Smoothie King Center |
| Championships | 1 | 0 |
| Founded | 1948 | 2002 |
How to watch
National TV
No national TV for this game
National streaming
See NBA League Pass
NOP local TV
- GCSEN
SAC local TV
- NBCSCA/PCK-SAC
National broadcasters
Official networks carrying NBA games this season — click through to watch on the broadcaster's own site or app.
ABC / ESPN
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Other games on Fri, Dec 18
Also coming up
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