Harrison Barnes shined with a career-high 39 points, including crucial baskets in the final moments, as the Sacramento Kings edged out the Golden State Warriors 134-133 during Thursday’s NBA action, leveling their season series at two games apiece. Barnes’ defensive prowess was also on display with a critical block against Jonathan Kuminga in the game’s tense final seconds.
“The way you have a high-powered offense is all five guys are going to have to make sacrifices at times,” Barnes said, crediting his team’s unselfishness.
Domantas Sabonis delivered the decisive dunk with just 22 seconds left, following back-to-back baskets from Barnes. Barnes praised his team’s unselfishness, attributing their high-powered offense to shared sacrifices.
The game saw several dramatic shifts, with Stephen Curry’s alley-oop to Kuminga bringing the Warriors within one point late. Kuminga, rebounding a missed 3-pointer by De’Aaron Fox, dunked again to take the lead before Sabonis’ dunk swung the momentum back to the Kings.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings Updates
In a frantic finish, Kevin Huerter of the Kings missed two free throws, giving the Warriors a chance to win. However, Curry lost the ball in the closing moments, mirroring a similar turnover in a previous loss to the Kings.
“The chaos of the moment you’re trying to make a play,” Curry said, “sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.”
Fox contributed 29 points and five assists for Sacramento, who had recently snapped a four-game losing streak with a victory over Atlanta.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings Updates
Barnes’ scoring streak was a focus for the Kings, with Fox noting the effort to get Barnes the ball once he got going. Curry scored 33 points, including six 3-pointers, in a high-scoring affair where both teams combined for 41 long-range shots.
“I think a lot of it just happens in the flow,” Fox said. “That’s kind of how he’s getting going and once he gets going there’s more of an effort to get him the ball in certain spots.”
Kuminga had a standout performance, setting a career-high with 31 points and extending his streak of 20-plus point games, following an 11-11 shooting display the night before. The game was a back-and-forth affair, reminiscent of last spring’s playoff series between these Northern California rivals. It followed three earlier season matchups and a close Kings victory nearly two months ago.
Andrew Wiggins, Klay Thompson, and Dario Saric also contributed for the Warriors, who were coming off an emotional win where they honored the late assistant coach Dejan Milojevic. Kings coach Mike Brown showed solidarity by wearing a shirt honoring Milojević, and the game itself was highly entertaining.
“Man, what an entertaining game,” Brown said.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings Updates
Curry achieved a personal milestone, moving into second place in Warriors franchise history for career defensive rebounds, and continued his impressive scoring run against the Kings.
Looking ahead, the Kings will face the Dallas Mavericks, while the Warriors host the Los Angeles Lakers, both games scheduled for Saturday night.
