California's Sacramento -- Midway through the fourth quarter, as the Sacramento Kings continued to pile pressure on the Golden State Warriors, the shouts of "Light the Beam" began.
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The Kings gave the Warriors some much-needed retribution with a victory that may have finally put an end to a dynasty, one year after their season was terminated by their neighbors in Northern California.
With 32 points from Keegan Murray and 24 from De'Aaron Fox, the Kings defeated the Warriors 118-94 on Tuesday night to maintain their playoff hopes.
Fox stated, "We knew what was on the line." This was simply one more thing standing in our way. We need to overcome this obstacle. It seems evident that we must play this team after losing to them the previous season and now having to face them."
After ending an NBA record 16-year playoff drought last season, Sacramento advanced to play against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night with the opportunity to make a run at the Western Conference's eighth spot.
One of the most important victories for the team in twenty years, the Kings overcame a Game 7 defeat at home to Golden State in the previous year's first round by outplaying the more experienced Warriors and being quicker to loose balls. Additionally, it was the biggest win the Kings had over the Warriors since February 21, 2006.
After ending an NBA record 16-year playoff drought last season, Sacramento advanced to play against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night with the opportunity to make a run at the Western Conference's eighth spot.
One of the most important victories for the team in twenty years, the Kings overcame a Game 7 defeat at home to Golden State in the previous year's first round by outplaying the more experienced Warriors and being quicker to loose balls. Additionally, it was the biggest win the Kings had over the Warriors since February 21, 2006.
After two losses in the play-in tournament, Golden State was eliminated from the playoffs for the third time in the previous five seasons as a result of the loss. The Warriors made sixteen mistakes. They allowed much too many open 3-pointers and 15 offensive rebounds. Furthermore, they didn't resemble the legendary squad that won four titles between 2015 and 2022.
"I was a sophomore in high school watching them win championships," Fox recalled. We've been keeping a close eye on this crew for a while. If this is the end, then so be it. They had an incredible run, but I'm happy we were able to defeat them at this point.
In what may have been his last game with the Warriors, Klay Thompson missed all ten of his field goals. Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green could potentially part ways this summer when they become free agents.
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Curry didn't receive nearly enough assistance while Thompson was having trouble. Curry finished with 22 points, but Keon Ellis harassed him for the majority of the contest.
Along with his solid defense, the undrafted Ellis—who had a two-way contract until February—scored 15 points. Domantas Sabonis finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Harrison Barnes scored 17 points for Sacramento.
In the seventh game of the first-round match between these regional rivals who are separated by less than 90 miles, Curry scored 50 points. "For the most part, they just took it to us the whole game," Curry said. "There's really no way around it."
Along with his solid defense, the undrafted Ellis—who had a two-way contract until February—scored 15 points. Domantas Sabonis finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Harrison Barnes scored 17 points for Sacramento.
In the seventh game of the first-round match between these regional rivals who are separated by less than 90 miles, Curry scored 50 points. "For the most part, they just took it to us the whole game," Curry said. "There's really no way around it."
Murray drained eight 3-pointers, including four in the opening quarter, and the Kings extended their lead to 16 points in the second quarter. However, the Warriors' bench came together to help them close the halftime deficit to 54-50.
Early in the third quarter, Sacramento pulled away from Golden State, going on a 19-5 run that was fueled by two 3-pointers from Ellis and additional huge baskets from Murray to extend their lead to 15 points. After then, the Kings were never in danger again.
"The first play was for me, and we just kind of kept going to that early on in the game," said Murray. "When you're shot is falling, especially when mine is falling, they always seem to find me."
"The first play was for me, and we just kind of kept going to that early on in the game," said Murray. "When you're shot is falling, especially when mine is falling, they always seem to find me."
