Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) lights the victory beam at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento after defeating the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Play In game on Tue Apr 16, 2024 (AP News photo)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Tuesday night. However, it was game 83 for the Kings this season. The Kings finished the regular season on Sunday and found themselves as the #9 seed in the Western Conference.
It was a lackluster finish for the Kings, who went 2-6 over the season’s final eight games. Yet, the Kings had one thing on their minds: revenge. The Kings played the #10-seeded Warriors in the first game of the NBA Play-In Tournament.
The winner would advance to play the loser of the #7-#8 seeded play-in loser for a chance at the #8 seed in the playoffs. The last time the Kings saw the Warriors in post-season action was last season, when the Warriors defeated the Kings in game seven behind a 50-point Stephen Curry performance.
On Tuesday night, the Kings looked to flip the script and send the Warriors home. The game tipped off inside a raucous Golden One Center at 7 PM PST in Sacramento. The Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors 118-94 on Tuesday night.
Game recap: In the first quarter, the Kings started the game looking good. The Kings defense limited the Warriors to only 22 points in the first quarter. On the offensive end of the floor, the Kings managed 31 points in the first. Keegan Murray started the game red-hot for the Kings with 14 first-quarter points. The Warriors got seven points from Draymond Green in the first quarter. The key to the game in the second quarter would be to keep the defensive intensity high.
In the second quarter, the Kings kept the lead going. With 5:30 to go in, the Kings still led the Warriors 46-34. The Warriors struggled until that point to get on an offensive rhythm. However, the Warriors would pull closer as the quarter ended.
The Warriors offense would pick up a bit of a rhythm, ending the first half to come within four points at 54-50. The Kings were outscored by the Warriors 28-23 to go into halftime in much better shape than the end of the first quarter. Jonathan Kuminga would lead the Warriors with 10 points in the first half. Keegan Murray led the Warriors with 14 points.
In the third quarter, the Kings took back the big lead. The Kings dominated the third quarter behind an offensive outburst that saw them outscore the Warriors 37-26. The Kings would take a 91-76 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The Kings leading scorer through three quarters was Keegan Murray, who had 26 points. Steph Curry was leading the Warriors through three with 16 points. Could the Kings hold on going into the fourth quarter to defeat the Warriors and send them home for the season?
In the fourth quarter, the Kings didn’t flinch. The Kings kept the pressure on the Warriors and didn’t allow them to get an inch on the offensive end. The Kings outscored the Warriors 27-18 in the final quarter of action.
The loss for the Warriors potentially marked the end of the dynastic run of Curry, Klay Thompson, and Green. Asked postgame, Curry and Green didn’t have many concrete answers other than, “they want to win and do whatever it takes to win.” Murray led the Kings in victory with 32 points. Curry led the Warriors with 22 points.
Up Next: The Kings will travel to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans in the win or go home final NBA play-in game. The winner is the 8th seed in the Western Conference. Loser goes home. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30pm PDT on Friday night.
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