Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) dunks over Golden State Warriors ahead Draymond Inexperienced (23) throughout the first half of an NBA basketball play-in match sport Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photograph/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
SACRAMENTO, California — Keegan Murray scored 32 factors, De’Aaron Fox added 24 and the Sacramento Kings stayed alive within the NBA play-in match, eliminating the Golden State Warriors with a 118-94 victory on Tuesday night time.
Sacramento superior to play at New Orleans on Friday night time with an opportunity to return to the playoffs because the eighth seed within the NBA Western Convention after snapping an NBA document 16-year playoff drought final season.
The Kings avenged a Recreation 7 loss at residence to Golden State in final yr’s first spherical by enjoying cleaner and being faster to free balls towards the older Warriors in what was one of the vital consequential wins for the franchise in 20 years.
Keegan Murray’s #SoFiPlayIn-record 8 THREES lead the Kings to victory!
They will face NOP for the #8 seed Friday 🍿 pic.twitter.com/6ATfC9NIJE
— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2024
READ: NBA: LeBron James, Lakers get seventh seed with win over Pelicans
The loss saved Golden State out of the playoffs for the third time prior to now 5 seasons, together with two eliminations within the play-in match. The Warriors dedicated 16 turnovers, gave up 15 offensive rebounds and method too many open 3-pointers, trying nothing just like the dynastic group that gained 4 titles from 2015-22.
Klay Thompson missed all 10 photographs from the sector and Stephen Curry didn’t get practically sufficient assist. Curry completed with 22 factors however was hounded for a lot of the sport by Keon Ellis.
The undrafted Ellis, who was on a two-way contract till February, added 15 factors to go along with his robust protection. Harrison Barnes scored 17 and Domantas Sabonis had 16 factors and 12 rebounds for Sacramento.
The assembly between the Northern California rivals separated by lower than 100 miles was a rematch of final yr’s collection gained by Golden State. Curry scored 50 factors within the seventh sport.
Keon Ellis was a DIFFERENCE-MAKER within the Kings’ #SoFiPlayIn W!
15 PTS
5 AST
3 STL
3 BLK
3-4 3PMSAC seeks the eighth seed Friday in NOLA. pic.twitter.com/ZEAz7bAlzm
— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2024
READ: NBA: Warriors slip nearer to ‘different finish of the standings’
The group was loud from the beginning even when the power didn’t fairly attain the extent of final yr’s matchup, when Sacramento followers celebrated the top of the record-long playoff drought.
Murray hit 4 3-pointers within the first quarter and the Kings constructed their result in 16 factors within the second quarter earlier than the Warriors rallied behind their bench to chop the deficit to 54-50 on the half.
Golden State acquired inside one early within the third quarter earlier than Sacramento responded with a 19-5 win keyed by a pair of 3-pointers from Ellis to construct the lead again to fifteen factors.
The Kings had been by no means threatened within the fourth quarter, resulting in cheers to “Gentle the beam!” over the ultimate couple of minutes.
NEXT SCHEDULE
Kings: Sacramento went 0-5 within the common season towards New Orleans and hasn’t gone winless in six or extra video games towards the identical opponent in a season since going 0-8 towards the Los Angeles Lakers within the 1983-84 common season and playoffs.
