Kings edge out Warriors 126-123 on their playoff return

Sacramento Kings defeated narrowly the Golden State Warriors 126-123 in the first game of the playoffs in their first postseason outing for 16 years on Saturday night.

FINAL: Kings take Game 1 vs. Warriors, 126-123 🔦🟣

👑 @Swipathefox 38 PTS, 13/27 FG
👑 @AhmadMonk 32 PTS, 14/14 FT
👑 @TreyLyles 16 PTS
👑 @DSabonis11 12 PTS, 16 REB

Presented by @RedHawkCasino pic.twitter.com/ETd7T7T4fc

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) April 16, 2023

It was a game full of excitement and unpredictability as the young, inexperienced Sacramento team showed steel of nerves to close out the match in real fashion after trailing 114-112 in the closing stages.

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De’Aron Fox shone for the Kings as he bagged home 38 points, including a clutch 3-pointer to give the Sacramento team the lead 115-112. They went on to record 7 points in a row, and despite late surge from Golden State, who were on the verge of last-gasp comeback, the Kings prevailed.

Andrew Wiggins missed a corner for 3 in the closing stages to give Warriors the lead in the dying seconds.

Malik Monk was the other hero for Sacramento as he scored 32 points coming off the bench, while Domantas Sabonis had 12 points and 16 rebounds.

Stepehen Cury was the highest scorer for the Warriors with 30 points, as Klay Thompson added another 21. Wiggins and Poole each scored 18.

The two teams will meet again for game 2 in Sacramento, as the Warriors will try to dodge an unpleasant record as they haven’t recorded two successive playoff defeats since 2007, when they were defeated twice by Utah.