Kings Dominate Warriors in 118-94 Play-In Thriller

The Sacramento Kings took a massive step towards ending their 17-year playoff drought, dominating the defending champion Golden State Warriors 118-94 in the play-in tournament on Tuesday night.

Leading the charge was Domantas Sabonis, who continued his outstanding play since being acquired from Indiana last season. The big man bullied the Warriors’ frontcourt, racking up 24 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists in a complete performance.

“We came out with great energy and intensity on defense,” Sabonis said after the win. “When we’re locked in like that, getting stops and running in transition, we’re tough to beat.”

Rookie Keegan Murray also stepped up huge, pouring in a game-high 32 points on scorching 12-for-18 shooting to go along with 8 rebounds.

“Domas told me before the game to just be aggressive and shoot it when I’m open,” Murray revealed. “That’s what I tried to do tonight - not overthink things and just hoop.”

The Kings’ defensive intensity gave the Warriors fits all night long. Stephen Curry had 28 points but needed 22 shots, constantly being smothered by the swarming Sacramento defense. Keon Ellis was a spark plug off the bench, relentlessly chasing Curry around screens.

“I just tried to make everything as tough as possible on him,” the rookie Ellis said about defending the Warriors’ superstar. “Once I got that assignment, I knew I had to give it my full effort and concentration.”

With the victory, Sacramento secures the 7th seed in the Western Conference playoffs and will face the 2nd seeded Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. It’s their first playoff berth since 2006 after years of being one of the NBA’s biggest laughingstocks.

But this season’s Kings team has been on a mission from day one. They raced out to a blistering 18-7 start, survived a brutal mid-season stretch with a slew of injuries, and finished strong by winning 9 of their final 13 games.

Now they get a shot at the mighty Grizzlies, who had the second-best record in the entire NBA this year at 51-31. While Sacramento enters as heavy underdogs, their dynamic offense led by De’Aaron Fox, Sabonis and the red-hot Murray will make them a tough out.

Something just feels different about these Kings. The players’ confidence is sky-high, the camaraderie is evident, and their bond with the long-suffering fans has never been tighter. After wandering the NBA wilderness for nearly two decades, the once-proud franchise has finally found its swagger again.

As the playoff intensity ratchets up, it’s going to be a rabid environment at Golden 1 Center. Having that raucous home crowd firmly behind them could be just the boost Sacramento needs to spring a first-round upset and keep their storybook season alive.

“We know Memphis is going to be a huge challenge, but we’re ready,” Sabonis stated. “This group believes in each other and we’re just going to go out there, play our game, and see what happens.”

For now, Kings fans can finally exhale and celebrate - their beloved basketball team is backin the playoffs and primed to make some noise.

After years of heartbreak and disappointment, maybe, just maybe, this magical run isn’t over quite yet.