After entering the fourth quarter with a 15-point lead, the Sacramento Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors, 118-94, in Tuesday’s match, preparing to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday in the quarterfinals. Final playoff spot in the NBA.
With the loss, the Warriors are eliminated from playoff contention.
Keegan Murray had a great night for the Kings, scoring 32 points and eight rebounds. De’Aaron Fox scored 24 points, and Harrison Barnes and Domantas Sabonis added 17 and 16 points, respectively.
The Kings entered halftime with a 54-50 lead and three players — Murray (16), Sabonis (10) and Fox (10) — in double figures. Jonathan Kuminga led the Warriors in the first half with 12 points, but Steph Curry, who had five points, and Klay Thompson, who did not score goals, struggled offensively.
“If Klay doesn’t play great and they’re only up by four, Sacramento is in trouble,” Shaquille O’Neal said at halftime on TNT.
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 their playoff opener on Tuesday. In the first round, they will face a rematch with the Denver Nuggets, who eliminated the Lakers in four games in the Western Conference Finals last year.
This story will be updated.
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(Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
