The vessel that is the Sacramento Kings fanbase had been pressurized to near maximum limits as Monday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves meant that the valve to release 16 years of pent up anticipation and emotions remained closed off for at least another few days. Tonight, the Kings had another chance to put an official stamp on their ticket to the playoffs with their first of two games in Portland. A win would guarantee sweet rainfall to officially end their playoff drought. A loss would mean they must rely on losses from either Minnesota or the Clippers. With plenty of ways to do it, the Kings looked to control their own destiny by simply winning this basketball game against a tanking Portland team. Let’s see how they did:
Quick Stats
Outcome: Kings win, 120-80
Sacramento Kings: 120 pts, 45.7% fg, 37.5% 3 pt, 75.0% ft, 30 ast, 59 reb, 10 to
Portland Trail Blazers: 80 pts, 32.3% fg, 23.1% 3 pt, 91.7% ft, 18 ast, 45 reb, 14 to
Let that steam out, Sacramento!!! Laugh, cry, scream, yell, run a mile, hug a neighbor – do whatever feels right to you because there is no playbook on how to celebrate the end of a 16-year NBA playoff drought. The Kings took care of business and delivered for us tonight in a big way. We’re going to the playoffs, y’all!
The Good, The Better, & The Best
The Good
- Zone Breakers: The Trail Blazers played much of the 1st half in a zone defense that gave the Kings some fits. The Kings were able to find open looks around the perimeter, but only shot 5-24 (20.8%) from the 3-point line in the 1st half. Eventually, towards the latter part of the 2nd quarter, the Kings finally focused on scoring in the paint instead of settling for outside looks. Kevin Huerter (17 points) showed a lot of smart movement by finding weak spots in the zone to get open looks for himself and his teammates. Harrison Barnes went into his fundamentals bag to get inside the paint and draw fouls to get to the line. The Kings were also able to grab eight offensive boards in the 1st half. All of these adjustments broke Portland’s zone and forced them out of it.
The Better
- 2nd Half Jets: The 1st half was very underwhelming. The Kings finished with a four-point lead after a slow-paced and disjointed half of basketball. Luckily, the nerves finally settled, the jets were engaged, and Sacramento rediscovered all the things that got them into a potential playoff clinching game in the first place. After the Kings’ bench failed to score any points in the 1st quarter, Malik Monk got going in the 2nd half and finished with a team-high 19 points. Domantas Sabonis notched another double double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. De’Aaron Fox scored 14 of his 18 points in the 2nd half. All the pieces that built the Kings up to having the best offense in the league finally started to come together and pushed the Kings past Portland tonight.
The best
- ‘Yoffs, Y’all: It’s really happening, you guys. The Sacramento Kings are going to the playoffs. I never thought I would see the day where I would type those words, and I am almost tempted to retire on the spot now that I have. (Greg, you cool with that?) [Editor’s Note: Absolutely not.] It’s hard to put into words how much I know this means to every Kings fan in this moment. 16 years is no joke. Through all the emotions of happiness, relief, amazement, and even disbelief that this is actually happening, I find myself wanting to focus on the pride. I am so proud to be a Kings fan. To identify with the most loyal, dedicated, and passionate fan base in the world is something I never want to take for granted. This team deserves this. This city deserves this. This fan base deserves this. You deserve this.
The King of Kings
Our beloved rookie Keegan Murray made history tonight. With his 3rd made 3-pointer on the night in the 3rd quarter, Keegan set a new record for most 3-pointers made by a rookie by hitting his 188th one of the season. It was the cherry on top of a historic night for the team and perfectly encapsulated the incredible season Keegan is having. It was a beautiful shot, nothing but net, and we even got a little smile out of Keegan.
https://twitter.com/sacramentokings/status/1641283265381404673?s=61&t=RB0TiUs-vluhY262zFI9aw
Up Next
Friday, March 31st @ Portland Trail Blazers – 7:00 P.M. (PT)
WE HAVE DONE IT! THEY SAID FIRST AND GOAL, WE SAID LOVE WILL FIND A WAY!
THE SACRAMENTO KINGS ARE IN THE NBA PLAYOFFS!
Kings gotta’ dance!
Thanks for all of your contributions this season J-Man. You were such a highlight during all of those dark times.
Hear hear!
I was down after the 0-4 start. I wanted it torn to the studs. Sorry Mike. Sorry Monte. I shouldn’t have doubted. Let’s fucking go!
Same. I assumed it was going to be another losing season. I am happy to admit I was 100% wrong.
Shouldn’t we be hearing the same from Kingsrebuild?
Shouldn’t Sabonis be in the MVP conversation? Leads the league in rebounding, second among centers in assists, leads the league in double-doubles and has taken the Kings to the playofs for the first time in 16 seasons,
Yes he should RFF. Definitely one of the ten most valuable players this season. Remarkable combination of motor, strength, skill, and IQ.
Think about his durability too. Broke his hand, took a day off and came right back and led us on a great run. Popsicle sticks Durant, Lebron, Towns, Embiid, Curry, Kawhi, PG sit out months at a time. So proud of him. All these talkers of the Haliburton trade being great for both teams need to look at the standings. No doubt Hali is going to be great and we all love him but no way do we even make the play-in with him I believe. Who’s the center in that scenario?
Agreed Mike. Sabonis is the 3rd best center in the NBA this year. I have seen comments about this being a “guard’s league”, but I do not think it is. There are 20 great point guards, and another dozen who are very good, but the best teams have top tier bigs, and they are at a premium. Sacramento has a top tier big AND top tier point guard. They are set up for sustained success.
We’re set to get clutch guy of the year, coach of the year, GM of the year. Why not MVP?
Oh, forgot – 6MOY too
Finally… the Kings… HAVE COME BACK… to the playoffs!
YES !!!
Keegan smiled, Carmicheal Dave and I cried. I see the beam from my upstairs window.
What a season.
Fox and Sabonis carried this team.
Yo, Will Griffith.
SHAVE THAT HEAD!
SHAVE THAT HEAD!
SHAVE THAT HEAD!
Ohhhh!
This photo tells me:
THE 6TH SEED IS DOOMED
And he’s finally going to watch Lady Bird!
I haven’t experienced a crowd like that since maybe the last game at Arco.
Holy shit.
Were you there? I was checking train schedules from Seattle and couldn’t figure out something doable.
Congrats if you were!
I was. Last minute decision this afternoon. Finally caved when I realized I couldn’t stand the idea of seeing history happen on TV when I live two miles away.
Long distance beam lighter!
We had TWO different LTB chants get going in the 4th. We’d pretty much taken over the stands by the last two minutes.
BRO I heard y’all on TV both times. MUCH LOVE
That was the reason I was there Monday night. I wanted to be there for the ending knowing I couldn’t be there for tipoff. That would have been something to be there that night.
Oh great! Happy for you, SMF!
Let loose!
Blow Out Win to Blow Away The Drought
Six games to go as the Kings secure home court for the first round. They have the 11th most wins in a season in franchise history, the 6th best win total in the Sacramento era with 6 games to go.
Grats to Keegan “Spock” Murray for breaking the rookie record for made 3FG in a season with 6 games to go (200 possible? he’s got 188)
&ct=g
In the video Mirann posted I actually love the way Keegan goes straight to work on his defensive responsibility. What a man!
Would have loved to see or hear Jerry Reynolds react live to the moment.
Happy for you, Jerry!
I would like this as well.
I have been a fan of the Kings since they were in KC. I was trying to emulate Otis Birdsong’s jumper in my driveway back in Elk Grove in the early 80’s. He was paired up with UNC legend Phil Ford in the backcourt, and Sam Lacey was providing premium post defense and dishing dimes from the high post, Scott Wedman was hitting jumpers from the wing, and Bill Robinzine was becoming a legend by being dunked on by Chocolate Thunder himself, Daryl Dawkins, the immortal The Chocolate-Thunder-Flying, Robinzine-Crying, Teeth-Shaking, Glass-Breaking, Rump-Roasting, Bun-Toasting, Wham-Bam, Glass-Breaker-I-Am-Jam. (RIP Bill, he took his own life in 1982 after not being on a NBA roster).
Once the Kings came to Sactown, I scraped money together and bought a single season ticket, section 206 row J seat 6, and had it for five years. For three seasons, I did not miss one game, despite working six days a week for Bel Air, and getting my degree at CSUS.
Even during the lean years, I watched every game, expect when I was out of the country. Even the Kenny Natt season.
I have never had as much fun as this season. KEEGAN MURRAY. I loved this guy before the draft, and what a rookie season. Is he going to be an All Star by his fourth year? I think it is a safe bet. That mother fucker is the truth.
Fox? He knew he could dominate the 4th. Sabonis knew he could be the focal point of an offense. HB, K-Von, and Monk all performed right at their talent level. Mike Brown and McNair are locked in. No bad contracts, control of most of their draft collateral. This team is set up for sustained success.
I keep listening to podcasts of smart NBA writers give credit to PHX, LAC, LAL, and MIN for things they have not accomplished in the regular season, while minimizing the extremely consistent and successful season the Kings have just put up. FUCK AROUND AND FIND OUT WESTERN CONFERENCE. What team is going to shut down the Kings offense four times in seven games? Which team is going to change it up so much that Brown, Jordy, and Triano are not going to figure it out?
This team is what we have been waiting for as fans. Light the Beam Sactown. Lose all those sad thoughts. This is the beginning of the Purple Reign.
So happy for you, Michael!
Great story!
great stuff there…way to grind through school while working..and stingers up! Class of 92
You are a great representative of Kings fandom and truly deserve to see a fun, good and playoff team in action .
Congratulations. I initially became a reader of STR because of Tom Ziller’s writing and the snarky comments in the forum. Over the years, I migrated since all the action moved here. I still find the light-hearted bantering occasionally, but this season has been so different from the past. As a lurker, it might not the best thing – but you guys totally deserve this. Well done. And my apologizes to De’aaron and Monte – I’d never thought that the Fox would evolve into the player he is. And I also did not expect the Hali trade to work out so well. Still think that Hali will be the better player. But Domantas was unbelievable. Well done. And now WCF!
You need to post more often Swish. This team is the truth.
So I analyzed the moment of that 3-pointer by Keegan and discussed it with my wife and it was barely a smirk, I’m sorry to say.
In any event it doesn’t count as a smile.
Keegan Spock showed a modicum of emotion. That’s all that matters IMO.
I refuse to believe that. i just think he had dried lips, or something.
I just want Keegan to be a guy who after a championship frowns and says: “That was nice, let’s do it again.” Please let me have that.
https://tenor.com/view/terminator-arnold-schwarzenegger-smile-fakesmile-gif-3445085
It’s pretty wild looking back at the Nostradumbass kick off thread and seeing how many wins we thought the Kings would get (and I truly wonder how many people answered that the Kings would make the playoffs).
https://kingsherald.com/prediction-contest/2022-23-prediction-contest-kickoff-and-nostradumbass-of-the-year/
Thanks Mirann for a season of superior game recaps. Truly excellent work.
Here here!
Thank you so much for the kind words, MichaelMack! I am so grateful to be a part of this special community. Kings fans are one of a kind and TKH members are the best of them. Your support and insightful activity in this community mean the world to me!
If 80% of my posts are “I am happy for you”, maybe I should just say that I am happy for ALL of you great people, log off and go to work.
Wow. I have to say, happy RikSmits is an absolute treat.
I thought your mid range jumper was a delight, but it pales in comparison to your upbeat posts.
Thanks, I’ve been happy for a better part of this season.
Whatever happens now is gravy, as long as we don’t thoroughly embarass ourselves in the postseason.
We score 120 and our high scorer had 19. We don’t have a 50 point guy in our line up, not even a 30 point guy, yet we have the best offense in NBA history. What was our season high? Fox’s 45 points in a 176 point double OT game?
I said at the beginning of the season what an interesting roster it was that there were at least eight players who were capable of 25 points in a game. I can’t help but think this team is going to be tough in a seven game series. Between a deep roster and crack coaching staff, it is going to be difficult to beat 4 times in 7 games.
Actually, Monks’ 45 off the bench . Even better .
Well done staying around everyone. Enjoy this moment!
We’re not done yet, right?
We hunting for that 50-win and 2nd seed baby!!!
We aren’t done until the Larry O’Brien Trophy comes to Sacramento
More than once.
There´s a weird little x next to Sacramento in the standings. What is happening?
And as much as I try, I can’t get the Kings to move up in the lottery on Tankathon. It’s been broken for a couple of months…
Time to chance my username
LOL.
turns out my spelling is the same as it was at the start of the playoff drought
Just popping in to say congrats to you long-suffering Kings fans. No fanbase deserves this more!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Light the Beam, Otis!
Hey.. glad to see you posting.. come join the party
Welcome back, Otis! Hope to see you in threads come playoff time!
I’m concerned there may still an issue with Fox’s leg, or something else. Although he is still playing well, I don’t see the intensity in the past week that we’ve always seen from him, especially in the 4th quarter. He seemed to be able to get to the basket and score at will, not seeing that as much now, more 3 pointers and other buckets a bit away from the basket.
Lingering injury, or is this by design?
Had to check.
On one of the most joyous days as a Kings fan in ALMOST TWO DECADES, sactownroyalty’s LIght the Beam celebration thread, posted last night at 9:23pm, has five comments.
Y’all created something great AND killed that thing at the same time. 🙂
Goal 1: Achieved – Make Plaoyffs
Begin work on Goal 2
Goal 2: Make finals
Pending
Goal 3: Win Finals
Badge Legend