NBA fan dies in stands after 'medical emergency'

A fan has died in the stands of a Sacramento Kings game against the New Orleans Pelicans in the US on Tuesday.

The club released a statement announcing the man in his 30s died during the NBA match after suffering a medical episode at Golden 1 Centre.

"During the first quarter of the Kings vs Pelicans game, a guest had a medical emergency. EMS immediately responded and administered CPR," the statement to the Sacramento Bee newspaper said.

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"Tragically, these efforts were unsuccessful and the guest passed away. The organisation offers its deepest condolences to the guest's family and loved ones."

The Sacramento Metro Fire Department said the man was unresponsive when they arrived at the scene.

He was pronounced dead 20 minutes later.

The game itself saw Brandon Ingram score 30 points for the New Orleans Pelicans in the 127-117 win over Sacramento.

Ingram helped New Orleans erase an early deficit and the Pelicans never trailed in the second half as they advanced to play the winner of Tuesday night's game between Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers in the semifinals Thursday in Las Vegas.

“It’s a growth moment for us to have an opportunity to be one of the first," New Orleans coach Willie Green said.

https://twitter.com/SacramentoKings/status/1731927195247943979

"This is the first time we’ve had the In-Season Tournament. You put a game in front of us that’s meaningful, I don’t care who it is, where it is, we want to win. That’s the type of heart that we have in that locker room.”

Herb Jones added 23 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 18 to give the Pelicans their third win over Sacramento in the past two weeks.

De'Aaron Fox scored 30 points and Domantas Sabonis added 26 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the Kings. Sacramento lost for the first time in the tournament after sweeping all four games in group play.