Kings Eliminate Warriors, Advance to Play Pelicans for Final Playoff Spot

The Sacramento Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors 118-94 in the NBA Play-In Tournament on Tuesday night, eliminating the defending champions and advancing to face the New Orleans Pelicans for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Kings, led by Keegan Murray's 32 points and De'Aaron Fox's 24 points, avenged their Game 7 loss to the Warriors in last year's playoffs.

The Kings played a cleaner game, committing fewer turnovers and grabbing more offensive rebounds, while the Warriors struggled offensively. Klay Thompson had a particularly rough night, missing all 10 of his shots and failing to score a single point. Stephen Curry finished with 22 points but did not receive enough help from his teammates.

Sacramento built a 16-point lead in the second quarter before Golden State rallied to cut the deficit to 54-50 at halftime. However, the Kings responded with a 19-5 run in the third quarter to regain control and secure the victory. The win marks a significant turnaround for the Kings, who snapped their 16-year playoff drought last season.

Why this matters:The Kings' victory over the Warriors signals a potential shift in the Western Conference playoff scene. It also raises questions about the future of the Warriors' dynasty, particularly with Klay Thompson's impending free agency.

The loss keeps the Warriors out of the playoffs for the third time in the past five seasons. "I'm not going to let two games define my season," Thompson said after the game. "I know I'm better than that. I know this team is better than that. It's a tough way to go out, but we've got our work cut out for us this summer."

The Kings will now face the Pelicans on Friday, with the winner securing the eighth seed and a first-round matchup against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. "We're not done yet," Fox said. "We've got one more game to win to get into the playoffs . We're going to be ready."

Key Takeaways

• Kings defeat Warriors 118-94 in NBA Play-In, advance to face Pelicans
• Kings led by Keegan Murray's 32 pts, De'Aaron Fox's 24 pts
• Warriors struggle offensively, Klay Thompson scoreless, Curry not enough help
• Kings' win signals potential shift in Western Conference playoff scene
• Kings face Pelicans on Friday, winner secures 8th seed and playoff spot