Kings Top Warriors to win first playoff game in 16 years
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) center, in the first quarter during Game One of the NBA Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Saturday, April 15, 2023.Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle
2023.04.15 – De’Aaron Fox finished with 38 points to win the Kings’ first playoff game in 16 years and to lead Sacramento to a 126-123 victory over the defending-champion Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.
Fox finished off a dazzling playoff debut that was years in the making and had one more task to do.
With the home crowd counting down following an exhilarating return to the postseason, Fox pressed the button and lit the ceremonial beam, letting out 17 seasons of frustration for Sacramento.
“Sacramento showed out tonight,” Fox said. “But doing this for the fans, just knowing the way that they support this team through thick and thin — really thin. It’s just a testament to the way they are.”
Fox scored 29 points in the second half after taking time to adjust to the playoff physicality and hit the 3-pointer that gave Sacramento the lead for good late in the fourth quarter.
It took Fox until his sixth season to reach the postseason stage, but announced himself he did as a star, as only Luka Doncic scored more points in a playoff debut with 42 against Dallas three years ago.
“You need guys like that on your side because they know everything that we’re throwing at them,” coach Mike Brown said. “There’s no secrets. You have to have guys on your team that can go make plays and Fox went and made plays tonight.”
2023.04.15 – Warriors @ Kings GM1 (NBA Playoffs highlights)
Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) shoots the ball during the third quarter in Game One of the NBA Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors in Sacramento, California Saturday, April 15, 2023. The Kings defeated the Warriors 126-123.Stephen Lam/The Chronicle
2023.04.15 – Warriors @ Kings GM1 (NBA Playoffs highlights)
2023.04.15 – Warriors @ Kings GM1 (NBA Playoffs highlights)
The first playoff meeting between the Northern California neighbors lived up to the hype and delighted the raucous crowd that had been waiting for a playoff game since 2006.
The inexperienced Kings closed the game strong against a Warriors team that won four titles in the previous eight seasons.
After Stephen Curry hit a corner 3-pointer to give Golden State a 114-112 lead with about four minutes left, the Kings responded with seven in a row starting with a 3-pointer from Fox.
The Warriors didn’t go away and cut the deficit to one on a layup by Curry in the final minute. But Andrew Wiggins missed a corner 3 for the lead in the closing seconds of his first game in more than two months.
“That last one felt amazing,” Wiggins said of the last shot. “Only up from here. … I’m here to compete and I believe in myself.”
Malik Monk made two free throws to make it 126-123 with 2.9 seconds left. Curry missed a runner from 3 at the buzzer, giving the Kings their first playoff win since April 30, 2006, against San Antonio.
“I did see enough daylight,” Curry said. “I haven’t seen the actual video to know if I had enough time to create a little more space, but you kind of live with that one.”
2023.04.15 – Warriors @ Kings GM1 (NBC Sports post game)
Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) attempts a three pointer against Sacramento Kings guard Davion Mitchell (15) in the first quarter during Game One of the NBA Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Saturday, April 15, 2023.Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle
2023.04.15 – Warriors @ Kings GM1 (NBC Sports post game)
2023.04.15 – Warriors @ Kings GM1 (NBC Sports post game)
Curry finished with a team-high 30 points and six rebounds, but had five turnovers. Wiggins added 17 points on 7-for-16 shooting (1-for-8 from 3-point range) with a playoff career-high four blocks in 28 minutes off the bench. Klay Thompson had 21 points and five 3-pointers, and Jordan Poole scored 18.
“That first game is kind of a feeling-out process, and we controlled the game for a good 32, 33 minutes,” Curry said. “They went on a run at the end of the third, start of the fourth, got the crowd back into it. And then we responded, which is what we’re capable of doing. Just a high-energy game from start to finish.”
Monk finished with 32 points off the bench and Domantas Sabonis had 12 points and 16 rebounds.
It was a festive environment in success-starved Sacramento where fans gathered outside the arena hours before the start of the Kings first playoff game following an NBA record 16-year drought.
The arena was deafening starting in pregame warmups with some fans even bringing back the cow bells that were so common during their playoff runs two decades ago.
2023.04.15 – Warriors @ Kings GM1 (Kruger Show post game)
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) scores against the Sacramento Kings in the first quarter during Game One of the NBA Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Saturday, April 15, 2023.Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle
2023.04.15 – Warriors @ Kings GM1 (Kruger Show post game)
2023.04.15 – Warriors @ Kings GM1 (Kruger Show post game)
“It was incredible all night,” forward Harrison Barnes said. “When guys ran out for layup lines with how loud it got in there and I think everyone got chills.”
The excitement appeared to take a toll on the inexperienced Kings, who struggled shooting the ball early. Sacramento shot just 39.2% in the first half and trailed Golden State 61-55 at the half.
The Warriors built the lead to 10 points in the third quarter before Sacramento ended the quarter on a 15-4 run fueled by 10 points from Trey Lyles to take a 91-90 lead into the fourth.
Historically speaking, the Warriors could be poised for a bounce-back performance Monday night. The team is 30-10 following a playoff loss since 2013, the highest winning percentage after a loss in that span.
“I know we can shoot the ball better and rebound the ball better,” Curry said. “So if we can do those things, I like where we’re at. We have to win one in this building at least, so why not Game 2?”
WIGGINS’ RETURN
Wiggins showed few signs of rust in his first game in more than two months after leaving the team to deal with an undisclosed family matter.
Wiggins came off the bench after starting his first 657 games in the NBA and made an immediate impact. He had his first shot attempt blocked but hustled back for a block of his own on the defensive end.
The only thing missing from his game was the outside shot as he was 1 for 8 from 3.
TIP-INS
Warriors: Golden State opened a series on the road for the fourth time in 25 playoff series under Steve Kerr. The Warriors won Game 1 and the series in the 2018 Western Conference Finals against Houston and the second round against Memphis last season. Golden State lost the opener of the 2019 Finals and the series to Toronto.
Kings: Sacramento starters missed their first 15 attempts from 3-point range before Fox hit one late in the third quarter.
UP NEXT
Game 2 is Monday night in Sacramento. The Warriors haven’t fallen behind 2-0 in a playoff series since the second round against Utah in 2007.
Related – See : Warriors rally back to beat Philadelphia 76ers
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Read more at: Golden State Warriors Media Services / More AP NBA
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
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