SACRAMENTO – Coming into Sunday’s regular season finale, Sacramento was fighting for their seeding lives. Though the Kings didn’t completely control their own destiny, a win over the injury-depleted (11 guys not dressed out!) Trailblazers would go a long way to ensuring Sacramento was not one and done in the play-in tournament.
Despite the fact that fans were furiously googling the names on the back of Portland players’ jerseys and wondering aloud “who are these guys”, the Kings’ starters started slow and did not match the energy of the moment early in the first quarter.
Portland, owner of the West’s worst record and having lost four straight, truly had nothing to play for. But any player who puts on a professional uniform is a professional basketball player, and some of these guys were absolutely looking to get on the radar of NBA scouts for their future benefit.
Though the Blazers were scrappy early, the Kings’ talent was certainly better, and once De’Aaron Fox decided to show up and be the best player on the floor, he was.
Fox went on a personal 6-0 run to put Sacramento up eight ahead of the game’s first timeout, and started a Kings’ run of 20-10 to close the quarter. The Kings’ defense played a significant role in their early success – Fox had three steals and the Kings forced six turnovers – as did the Blazers’ commitment to firing away from deep despite the fact they were just 1-19 in the first 12 minutes.
The second quarter started much like the first ended: with the Kings in control. Sacramento begun to heat up from deep while keeping the pressure on defensively, and Fox continued to hunt his shot aggressively. The lead ballooned as the Kings got hot from behind the arc (7-11) and the Kings cruised to a 65-37 halftime advantage.
More entertaining than the product on the floor was the scoreboard watching in the stands, as fans fretted while the Lakers jumped out to a 20+ lead in New Orleans. A result that, if it were to hold, would relegate the Kings to the ninth seed and a home showdown with the Warriors.
The third quarter was more of the same, with the most exciting moment coming when the Blazers managed to commit both a Flagrant 1 and Transition Take foul on the same possession, leading to a five point Harrison Barnes possession (two free throws for the flagrant and a three pointer on the possession) and a 33 point Sacramento lead. The points came as part of a 16-3 run over three minutes of play that turned this one from “blowout” to “laughable”. Sabonis also locked up his 77th double-double of the season in the frame – tied for most in a single season – and Barnes notched 10 of his 17 points. The Kings finished the third up 99-58.
“We just wanted to bring the physicality to them, to be the team that knocks them back,” Keegan Murray said. “I feel like we did that. We hit them in the mouth in the third quarter, and were able to get some rest for the guys that usually play a lot.”
Sacramento played out the string in the fourth, rolling out the backups to start the final frame of the regular season. Though there wasn’t much excitement in playing out the string, Kings fans were treated to a JaVale McGee appearance – quite possibly the highlight of the 18 point fourth.
The Kings were led by Fox’s 24, while Sabonis fell one assist shy of a triple double with 18/11/9. All five starters were in double-digits, as was Davion Mitchell off the bench with 11. Portland was led by Dalano Banton, who had 16 despite going 0-15 from three and getting ejected with 3:30 to play after back to back technical fouls. Portland was just 7-45 from deep and 31-98 overall.
The Kings will enter the play-in tournament as the West’s number nine seed, which means a date with the Warriors on Tuesday at 7:00pm at Golden1. It seems fitting that Sacramento will be in a win or go home game against their rival, the same team that eliminated them a season ago. It’s a matchup the Kings seem to relish.
“It’s close to the same team we played last year, so it should be really competitive like it always is,” Murray said. “A really fun matchup. We’re excited, I’m sure they’re excited too.”
Mitchell agreed, saying, “It’s one game. It’s anybody’s game at that point. It’s going to be physical. We know the refs aren’t going to call anything because of the rivalry we have with them. I think we will be ready.”
Mike Brown took a more nuanced approach, recognizing both the opportunity to keep playing, keep learning, and exercise some demons.
“We welcome anybody that’s in front of us, we are just excited about the opportunity to play again,” Brown said. “To go play one game right now, swing for the fences and try and get a win, it’s a great opportunity for us. And any time you can play after your last regular season game, it’s a positive.”
Though there is disappointment in their fate, Brown is right in celebrating that they get to keep playing. And Tuesday’s postseason rematch with Golden State will certainly make for great television, and hopefully the opportunity for Sacramento to play on.
Maybe this is all happening for no reason.
I just assume it’s the universe’s way of torturing me for my sins. Seems as likely as any other explanation, I figure.
I like that reason. I’m going to go with that, too.
But only for your sins, not mine, if that’s all right with you.
that’s unresonable
Since the ASG
SAC is 15-14
GSW is 19-10
Kings vs Warriors…
Last 3 games, each team won by only 1 point.
This season head-to-head (split 2-2) in reverse chronological order:
134-133 SAC v GSW
123-124 GSW v SAC
102-101 GSW v SAC
114-122 SAC v GSW
So what’s the strategy? Domas will be neutralized, no Monk. I would say MB gives green light for 45 3s?
Pretty sure that green light is always on.
It will be interesting to see how Kerr chooses to handle the Sabonis matchup. Looney hasn’t started since late January, and TJD has started the last 10.
Ah ok interesting
Stop Sabonis you stop the Kings. Triple team him jf needed. It won’t hurt. The two extra open players are not a threat.
The Sacramento Kings forfeited their Tuesday play-in home game, mere hours after their season finale victory.
“Teams are undefeated when stopping Sabonis,” said an anonymous Kings representative. “Steve Kerr called us and told us that’s exactly what the Warriors would do, so we congratulated them on their future win and told them that playing the actual game would be kind of ridiculous in light of the obvious.”
An unnamed Kings’ coach added, “Domas is all broken up over it. Being stopped is his greatest weakness, and he wanted to hide it from everyone. Now he’s wandering aimlessly in the locker room, repeating, ‘The secret’s out . . . It’s out!'”
?
You ok?
Hoping for games 1-6 Mike Brown vs Game 7 Mike Brown. Game 7 Steph Curry can also stay home, thanks.
Hoping Mike Brown doesn’t choose to cut Davion’s minutes guarding Steph in favor of someone with a little more size and firepower (maybe Duarte this season instead of TD)!
Davion doesn’t score. The idea is to score more than the other team. There is a reason Davion doesn’t play much.
4 vs. 5 is difficult.
He scores enough now and very productive .
How?
Per 36 this season he scores about .3 pts fewer than Chris Paul. I guess if scoring is the only criterion, that would make it 4 vs. 4 and not quite so difficult.
So they only play against Chris Paul?
Does Davion ever play 36 minutes?
Does Chris Paul have to score thirty five for the Warriors to win?
Can Chris Paul facilitate scoring through his team?
Davion is to Chris Paul as McDonalds nuggets are to actual chicken.
So the Warriors only play against Davion?
How often does Chris Paul play 36 minutes these days?
Does Davion have to score thirty five for the Kings to win?
Can Davion defend opposing scorers to contribute to team success?
Davion is no more Chris Paul than McNuggets are actual chicken, but this season he scores at approximately the same rate per minute played as Chris Paul. You chose scoring as the sole criterion.
He doesn’t score? Have you been watching him since the all star break? But in reality its his defense that will play more importantly in this game. IMO Curry dpesn’t want him to defend him. If Davion can do a good job and I think he will then we have a good chance to win this game. You also have Keon who Curry hasn’t faced to help out. For me it’s ironic that these 2 face each other again in such an important game. Hopefully the Kings are looking for a little payback.
I have been watching…he doesn’t score.
I am sure Curry welcomes Davion and Keon.
Wouldn’t it be amazing to send the Warriors AND the Lakers home before the playoffs even start? Pretty please, to make up for all our suffering?
I would be completely happy with the season if that happened. Even if they get whooped in the first round…I hope the pelicans take care of business the next game
That would be a beautiful thing.
Beat GSWankers, Beat Fakers, get swept by OKC. I can live with this.
Can’t we at least push them to a 6th game?
Lol ok that is also acceptable
How about a seventh game and win it. Anything is possible.
If it were to happen IMO we play pretty good against OKC. I don’t think we would be swept.
It would be awesome. I don’t think it has much chance of happening but it would be cool if it did.
That would be awesome.
I get Brown being relieved/happy to keep playing but celebrating? Celebrating what? That you didn’t even make the top 8- and got worse.
Its like he’s trying to sell us the idea that this season is successful cause they weazled/fell back into 9 seed.
Having said that, I sincerely hope they can find a way to win so at least the Kings get 2 playoff type games to get better at it. The experience.
The recap notwithstanding, Mike Brown never used the word “celebrating.”
His actual postgame comments of almost 12 minutes made his attitude pretty clear about the season.
Yeah, and this is the last time when you want to be negative with your players. You have to get them ready, both with the game plan (we’ll see about that) and the mentality (that’s where I think he’s strongest as a coach).
I think he’s happy to still be playing, but understands there were a lot of missed opportunities. He talked about how they would have rather finished first or second of course, but recognizes that what they’re learning this year is probably what they were supposed to learn last year. In terms of postseason success, this is an incredibly young team. Anything past the regular season helps build the foundation for extended playoff success, which is what they’re trying to build toward. Not excusing the multiple blown leads and bad losses to terrible teams, but everything went right for them last season, whereas this year they’ve had a more “typical” season in terms of injuries, adversity, etc.
The last playoff-less streak lasted 16 seasons. How long will the next one last?
Forever. The Kings will never make the postseason again.
Through Vivek, all things are possible.
Ba humbug.
I keep thinking how thrilled the fans would have been last year to be in this position and t have us with two more wins and a #3 seed this year. Punch the dubs in the mouth then handle business in the next matchup whoever it is. And keep a side eye on tankathon.
But it isn’t last year. It’s this year. And after being the 3rd seed the previoius year, being number 9 this year is a big letdown, every way you cut it.
And keep in mind, only two seasons ago, you would now be eliminated from postseason and know every mid-lottery prospect from A to Z.
If we end up keeping our draft pick it will be even wors due to the lack of flexibility.
Still a chance to salvage the season, but not great so far.
In the Lakers-Pels and Warriors-Kings matchups, in the early going the road team (Lakers, Warriors) is favored by 1.5 points in each.
Dumb question here: what happens to our 2024 first round pick? Do we already own it outright due to our record, or is there a chance that we ship it to Atlanta if we win in the play-in?
We keep the pick unless we win both play-in games and get the 8th seed. So most likely we’ll have the 13th or 14th pick.
Got it, thanks! Was hoping we ship it out to give us more flexibility in the offseason, especially as the 2024 draft is supposedly not that good. However as long as it’s not cash considerations I’m happy
Play-in is stupid. 9th seed is the best team not in the playoffs. Remodel the team this offseason Monty, you should have improved it last year and didn’t do anything. Did we expect a Finals team? The difference between teams like Celtics, Nuggets and this Kings team is significant.
I asked this in the Game but if the kings lose and get the 12th pick – can or would you remove protections for the Hawks, so you can still do a bigger trade ?
I doubt the Hawks would go for it. They already have a top ten pick this year and their pick next year is controlled by San Antonio.
You’d have to throw in extra assets to make it interesting for them.
if we add Sabonis we control our draft picks again and get rid of that dead weight of a salary.
OT: This is worth noting because the Kings can only pay Monk $78M over 4 years this summer. Will they be able to afford him?
I’m no capologist, but i think the Suns payroll is much higher than ours. Hard to be a winner and thrifty in the NBA.
I’d also note that the Suns basically had to do this. They are so far over the cap and have no picks for the foreseeable future. They really had to way to replace him this summer other than to give him an extension.
They are slated to be close to $40M over the TAX line and paying 3 players $50M each!
It’s hard to remain competitive when the other 4 teams in your division spend deep into the tax. No other division in the league is like the Pacific.
Maybe, and it may turn out to be a bad decision but at least they swing for the fences.
Revenge is a dish best served Beamed.
nitpick: “exorcise their demons” not exercise
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