It seems like the Sacramento Kings are the good luck charm for the New Orleans Pelicans. Every single matchup between them has resulted in the victory on the Pelicans’ side. The same scenario played out tonight. A Zion Williamson-less team got the better of Sacramento for the sixth straight time. And Jose Alvarado seemed to be shocked as much as he was joyful.

Yet, he couldn’t let it go without giving a fitting answer to De’Aaron Fox for his pre-game challenge. “We’re 0-and-5 against that team, and at some point you have to let it hang and you got to go beat a team that’s beaten you. It’s hard to beat a team six times in a row,” Fox had said. Counting the in-season tournament win, the Pelicans have indeed bested the “Beam Team” splendidly. And when asked about the latest success, Alvarado said, “We did it 6 times. I’m glad we did it.” He also pointed out that they put a lot of defenders on D’Fox so that they could get him tired.

Clearly, it did the trick and Fox’s hope/challenge once again fell short. Even the sixth time wasn’t a charm for a thoroughly decimated Kings team.

Despite the Pelican’s plan to get Fox tired, he still had a huge night, finishing with a game-high 35 points along with five assists, and seven rebounds. Yet, it wasn’t enough to contain a determined New Orleans. And Brandon Ingram provides the reason for the grit they have shown throughout the season.

“We knew how important today was … It’s been two years since we’ve been in the playoffs, and now we get another chance,” Ingram said. The fight was apparent when the Pelicans took a nine-point lead after three quarters and quickly widened the gap to 20. As the season ended for the Sacramento Kings, this becomes the 18th season they haven’t made the playoffs.

Jose Alvarado’s stats

After the defeat, Kings coach Mike Brown gave due flowers to the Pelicans bench. “You have to give their bench credit. Nance, Marshall, and Alvarado scored 34 points. That’s a great night for them, a tough night for us,” he admitted. Jose Alvarado has been a fierce and steady backup point guard for his team since they signed him to a two-way contract after going undrafted in 2021.

Alvarado finished this regular season with 7.1 points, 2.1 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals shooting a career-best 37.7% from the three. In his third season now with New Orleans, the impact he brings to the court can’t be completely justified with numbers. But in a team where their key player is supremely injury-addled, leading to a reliance on quick thinking, Jose shines the brightest. No matter the situation, the “Grand Theft Alvarado” is always ready to heed the call.

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