Kings eliminate Warriors from play-in with fourth quarter finish, 118-94

A blazing hot shooting night by Keegan Murray (echoed by his adoring fans) staked Sacramento to a lead that it would not relinquish | Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Sacramento jumped out ahead to first quarter lead that they held onto as retribution for last season’s game 7 loss

After a hot start by the Sacramento Kings led by forward Keegan Murray, they were able to keep their composure over the last three quarters to eliminate Golden State convincingly. The Kings leveraged a sizeable advantage in second chance points and consistent execution (winning the first, third, and fourth period scoring) throughout the high-stakes game.

Sacramento received standout efforts from Murray (32 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals), De’Aaron Fox (24 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals), and Domantas Sabonis (16 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists). All five starters scored in double digits with rookie Keon Ellis (15 points, 5 steals, and 3 steals) shining as brightly as his more heralded teammates. They had been missing their top two shooting guards Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter the last several weeks and underdogs heading into the game.

Golden State’s Stephen Curry (22 points and 6 turnovers) worked through a sluggish start and minimal support from his fellow starters outside of Draymond Green (12 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals), while receiving strong bench production from Jonathan Kuminga (16 points and 7 rebounds) and Mooses Moody (16 points). Klay Thompson outdid his horrid 3-for-19 shooting result in game 6 of last year’s West semis with an 0-10 effort (0-6 from three) tonight.

The teams went hurriedly and sloppily back and forth in the opening stanza at a pace befitting an elimination game with the execution of a preseason tilt. Murray hit double digits halfway through the quarter, and Fox pieced together multiple highlight worthy plays to extend Sacramento up as much as ten. Despite Green’s seven points, the Warriors ended up down -9 in rebounds, which opened up opportunities for the Kings. The last of Murray’s four threes in the period made it 31-22.

While Golden State continued to find hard going from behind the arc, the Kings were able to push their lead out to 16 in the second period. Kuminga, Chris Paul, and Moses Moody led a bench push for the Warriors by steadying the cold offense to shave the Sacramento lead. Kuminga took over the Warriors’ playmaking duties and scored six in a row to stave off yet another Kings’ push. Sacramento, despite the great start, limped into the break up 54-50.

Keon Ellis and Harrison Barnes spearheaded another push by Sacramento in the third quarter, while Curry sought out his own offense in response. After some uncertain minutes, Sacramento resumed moving the Warriors’ defenders around helplessly with Murray, Fox, and Ellis supplying over 90% of the team’s offense in the quarter.

Obersvations:

Given that Curry, Thompson, and Green mocked him earlier in the season for missing an open game-tying shot, this contest probably is going to come down to Harrison Barnes hitting a clutch attempt.
The Kings players gave each other season ending accolades. This sounds like a fun idea!
The only thing Spurs fans have probably missed in the last five years of lottery living? The 3 ¹⁄₂ minute television timeouts in the playoffs.
I’m not sure when it happened, but the State Farm commercials have seemingly jumped the shark for some time.
It would seem like Kevon Looney was the best Warriors matchup for Sabonis, but Steve Kerr went first with Trayce Jackson-Davis, then Kuminga. Looney entered the game once Sabonis scored easily over Green.
I’m still convinced Thompson would make a solid late-career bench player for the Spurs.
Former Spur Trey Lyles is a rotation player for a playoff team. Player development indeed happens (repeatedly) on the Spurs roster.
Ellis was a revelation on both ends. He swiped balls from several unsuspecting Warriors in his 40 minutes. San Antonio needs these unselfish athletic guys on their bench that don’t need or require plays to be run for them with Wembanyama and Vassell taking a good chunk of the available shots next season.
Murray, featured in the Kings’ halfcourt sets, netted 11 of their first 13, while the Warriors tried to set up the non-Curry starters from the frenzied onset. Two freebies by Ellis put Sacramento up by nine. Long threes from Curry and Brandon Podziemski prevented the Warriors from falling way behind. The last few minutes of the frame yielded a flurry of turnovers, but Murray’s wing three put the Kings 31-22.
After Lyles’ block on Kuminga, Barnes’ corner three in transition put Sacramento two touchdowns up early in the second period. After Ellis swiped the ball from Thompson, he clumsily found Sabonis in traffic for a layup. Threes from Chris Paul and Moody kept Golden State within striking distance; then Kuminga discovered his offense shortly after. Despite a subpar half, the Warriors were fortunate to head into the break down four.
The teams resumed the helter-skelter pace in the third period, and the referees swallowed their whistles to further foment the intensity. Ellis swiped another steal from Curry and Murray converted his fifth three in transition. Barnes’ first three put Sacramento briefly up ten. Consecutive threes by Ellis and Fox of the period put the Kings up 15. Moody’s individual scoring spurt was matched by Sacramento’s scoring balance. Alex Len’s closeout was assigned the Zaza Pachulia foul treatment, but Wiggins converted only one of three. A sign of the night: Curry’s desperation attempt was swatted away by multiple defenders, and Sacramento exited the third up 91-76.
Sabonis’ free throws and dunk followed by Barnes’ miracle turnaround jumper put Sacramento up 19 to start the fourth. Curry continued his one-man assault on the defense. Back-to-back threes by Murray and Barnes stunned the Warriors, while Green and Curry committed sideline out of bounds violations reminiscent of Lonnie Walker IV. Golden State was unable to mount a final comeback and succumbed to the Kings.