The Sacramento Kings went 16 years between NBA playoff appearances, which makes their performance in the first two games of their series with the Golden State Warriors that much sweeter. Sacramento is up 2-0, protecting home court and winning both games at Golden 1 Center.
Both victories were hard-fought and earned as the defending champions gave the Kings everything they could handle. Neither team has been able to pull away from the other, as Sacramento was the more efficient team late in games to pick up two victories.
In Game 2, it was a flagrant act by Draymond Green that got the Kings going. With just over seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Domantas Sabonis fell to the ground. He grabbed onto Green’s foot and ankle, for which he did receive a technical foul.
In response to that, after shaking his foot free, Green stomped on Sabonis’ chest. Sabonis stayed on the ground for several minutes after the incident. Green was assessed a Flagrant-2 foul, which is an automatic ejection. He has also been suspended for Game 3 on Thursday night.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, Draymond Green & Golden State Warriors Updates
Kings’ point guard De’Aaron Fox had another strong performance in Game 2, scoring 24 points with nine assists, five rebounds and four steals. Knowing what was coming after Green’s suspension, he made sure his teammates were ready to close out an emotional game.
“That brought us together,” Fox said. “We huddled up and were like, ‘We have to win this game,’ especially because everybody thought [Green] would be ejected. When that usually happens, that team comes together and goes on a run. We were able to negate that.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, Draymond Green & Golden State Warriors Updates
At the time of the incident, the Kings were leading 91-87. Sacramento was able to hold off the run that Fox mentioned would be coming from Golden State, as they never relinquished the lead. The Warriors did tie the game on a few instances, but never got over the hump as the Kings eventually won 114-106.
“They played better than we did down the stretch,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “They were the aggressors, and I thought they benefited from being the aggressors.”
The Kings, despite their lack of playoff experience, don’t look phased by the moment. They are going up against the defending champions, who have players on the team with more playoff experience individually than the entire Kings roster does.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, Draymond Green & Golden State Warriors Updates
But, that has not stopped Sacramento from playing at a high level with confidence. If they can keep up that level of performance on the road in Golden State, they have an excellent chance at advancing to the second round of the playoffs.
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