The New Orleans Pelicans will take their second shot at securing a spot in the NBA’s Play-in tournament when they visit the Sacramento Kings to close out a four-game road trip. The Pels opened with wins over Portland and the Lakers before falling to the Clippers on Sunday. New Orleans is 1-2 against Sacramento this season and remains in ninth place in the West with four games left to play.

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Zion Williamson will not play, but his stepfather, Lee Anderson is ready to talk. Appearing on “The Jordy Culotta Show,” Anderson said he believes Williamson could play this season, which seems unlikely considering just how little time there is left in the regular season for games or practice.  Anderson also said Zion has been frustrated with losing but his relationship with the Pelicans’ front office is solid. He had great praise for Coach Willie Green, calling his hiring a “walk-off home run.”

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In Saints news, the team welcomed safety Tyrann Mathieu into the facility today, though no agreement appears on the near horizon to sign the nine-year veteran. New Orleans is looking to replace both starting safeties from last season with the losses of Marcus Williams and Malcolm Jenkins. Mathieu has been a playmaker throughout his career, with 26 interceptions, 10 sacks, and 41 tackles for loss. And backup quarterback Blake Bortles has asked for his release, which he should get.

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After dropping two of three to Auburn this past weekend, LSU baseball will try to get back on track tonight when they host Grambling. The Tigers are 10-0 all-time against GSU. In other games around the state, UNO will visit Southern, while UL heads to Ruston to take on Louisiana Tech. Southeastern is on the road at South Alabama.

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Kansas held off North Carolina, 72-69 to claim its fourth men’s basketball national championship last night, and the second for Coach Bill Self. The Jayhawks trailed by 15 points at the half but opened the second with a 31-9 run to take the lead. Kansas All-American Ochai Agbaji was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player after scoring 33 points over two games. David McCormack led the Jayhawks with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Before last night, North Carolina had never lost a Final Four game in New Orleans, and Kansas had been 0-2 in championship games played in the Crescent City. The only other time the teams met for the championship was in 1957. Carolina, led by Lennie Rosenbluth beat Wilt Chamberlain and the Jayhawks, 54-53 in overtime.

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