After entering the fourth quarter with a 15-point lead, the Sacramento Kings knocked off the Golden State Warriors in convincing fashion, 118-94, in their Play-In matchup Tuesday, setting themselves up to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday for the final NBA playoff spot.
With the loss, the Warriors are eliminated from playoff contention.
Keegan Murray had a monster night for the Kings, posting 32 points and eight rebounds. De’Aaron Fox contributed 24 points, and Harrison Barnes and Domantas Sabonis added 17 and 16, respectively.
The Kings went into halftime with a 54-50 lead and three players — Murray (16), Sabonis (10) and Fox (10) — in double digits. Jonathan Kuminga paced the Warriors at the half with 12 points, but Steph Curry, with five points, and Klay Thompson, who was scoreless, struggled offensively.
“If Klay’s not playing great and they’re only up four, Sacramento’s in trouble,” Shaquille O’Neal said at halftime on the TNT broadcast.
Thompson remained scoreless through the final buzzer, and Curry finished with 22 points, four rebounds and two assists: not enough to keep the Warriors’ season alive.
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Pelicans, 110-106, in the opening game of the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday. They’ll get a rematch with the Denver Nuggets, who ousted the Lakers in four games in the Western Conference finals last year, in the first round.
This story will be updated.
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(Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
