The New Orleans Pelicans will get a taste of potential play-in opponents as they conclude the regular season with three consecutive matchups against Western Conference rivals, starting with a trip to Sacramento to face the Kings on Thursday evening.

With two successive victories, the Pelicans (47-32) have ascended to the sixth spot in the West. However, each remaining rival poses a threat to catch up with New Orleans by the conclusion of Sunday’s games.

Following their Sacramento clash, the Pelicans will take on the Golden State Warriors on the road on Friday, and then wrap up the season with a home game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

The Kings (45-34) stand the greatest chance of surmounting the Pelicans as they commence Thursday with a superior record compared to the Lakers and Warriors. Sacramento has already succumbed to New Orleans in the season series, suffering four consecutive defeats, two on each team’s court.

The teams’ last encounter was on Jan. 7, where the Pelicans secured a 133-100 victory on the road without Zion Williamson in the lineup.

Despite Brandon Ingram contributing 15 points and eight assists in that triumph, he will be sidelined on Thursday, marking his 11th consecutive absence due to a bruised left knee.

There is a possibility of Ingram’s return on Friday against the Golden State Warriors after recently receiving clearance for on-court activities.

CJ McCollum, who netted 29 points against Portland on Tuesday, expresses confidence in the Pelicans’ upward trajectory in the standings rather than looking downwards.

“The goal is always to get into the playoffs, try to get 50 wins and give ourselves a chance to rest for a few days while other teams play against each other,” he said. “I would love to watch the Lakers and some of those other teams (in play-in games) on the couch while I drink some wine and eat popcorn. That would be a really ideal day for me.”

For the Kings to clinch victory in the final game of the season series against the Pelicans and potentially surpass them in the standings, aspects beyond Ingram’s availability come into play.

Sacramento enjoys a more favorable schedule with three consecutive home games against the Pelicans, Phoenix Suns on Friday, and Trail Blazers on Sunday.

However, the Kings are grappling with injury concerns, with Kevin Huerter out for the season due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder since mid-March and Malik Monk sidelined with a sprained right MCL expected to keep him off the court until May.

Sacramento missed an opportunity to stay within one game of the Pelicans in the loss column after squandering a 20-point lead in a 112-105 defeat against Oklahoma City on Tuesday. The Kings finished their four-game road run with a 1-3 record, also falling to the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.

Kings’ coach Mike Brown found solace in his team’s performance despite the setback, acknowledging their commendable effort in building a substantial lead against a top Western Conference team.

“I thought in the first half, our ball movement was beautiful,” Brown said of Tuesday’s loss. “I thought we got bored with it in the second half. It’s hard when you have a formula of success, to go away from it.”