The Sacramento Kings proved they were capable of beating all the top teams in the Western Conference this season, but they never found an answer for the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Pelicans secured the No. 8 seed in the West with a 105-98 victory over the Kings in a play-in tournament game Friday night at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

The Pelicans will face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. Game 1 in the best-of-seven series will be played at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

Sacramento went 0-5 against the Pelicans during the regular season and lost again in the game that mattered most.

The Kings failed to reach the playoffs a year after earning the No. 3 seed to end a 16-year drought, bringing a disappointing end to a season that started with so much promise.

Brandon Ingram scored 24 points to help the Pelicans prevail despite the absence of star forward Zion Williamson, who is expected to miss at least two weeks with a left hamstring strain.

Jonas Valanciunas had 19 points and 12 rebounds. Trey Murphy III added 16 points.

“I was just locked in to wining the basketball game, thinking about the details of the basketball game and being aggressive,” Ingram told TNT after the game. “... We knew how important today was. We knew where we wanted to be. We knew where we belong. It’s been two years since we’ve been back to the playoffs and now we get another chance to go out there and continue to fight.”

De’Aaron Fox had 35 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Kings.

Domantas Sabonis recorded a double-double with 23 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

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