The Sacramento Kings have handed the Golden State Warriors back-to-back playoff losses for the first time since the 2019 NBA Finals after outlasting the defending champions 114-106 in Game 2 at Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center to take a commanding 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven series.
Domantas Sabonis enjoyed a strong, bounce-back performance for Sacramento after finishing with just 12 points on a season-worst 5-of-17 shooting in the team’s Game 1 win, putting up 24 points, nine rebounds, and four assists on 8-of-12 shooting.
De’Aaron Fox backed up his Game 1 heroics adding 24 points of his own to go along with five rebounds, nine assists, and four steals on 10-of-23 shooting whilst college teammate Malik Monk again proved his worth adding 18 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Davion Mitchell proved an invaluable sparkplug off the bench also finishing with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting to compliment his sturdy, on-ball defence whilst Kevin Huerter had 15 points and five rebounds to go along with a game-high +16.
Sacramento were ice cold from deep early on with the Warriors building some first-quarter ascendancy before the Kings’ struggles from behind the arc ceased.
Mike Brown’s men outscored Golden State 41-29 in the second quarter thanks largely to Monk’s 11 points on 3-of-5 from three.
The Kings’ lead grew to as high as 14 in the third quarter before the defending champions embarked on a comeback effort.
The Warriors went on an extended 26-12 run to tie it mid-way through the final period.
Golden State’s Draymond Green was ejected with 7:03 to play in the fourth after a sequence in which he stomped on a floor-bound Sabonis’ ribcage after the Sacramento bigman held Green’s leg as they were untangling in the wake of a battle for the ball.
Green, an 11-year veteran and four-time NBA champion, was actively inciting the ravenous Sacramento crowd as the play was reviewed.
With Green off the court, Golden State were unable to come up with the necessary stops to slow down Sacramento’s high-powered offence down the stretch with Fox and Mitchell both nailing big-time threes in the final minutes to lead the Kings to a famous victory on their home floor.
The Kings were able to overcome their poor shooting numbers – 45.7% from the field and 23.7% from three – thanks their ability to force turnovers – 25 points off 20 Warriors turnovers – and get to the line – 29 free-throw attempts to 18.
They also won the rebounding battle – 58 to 46 – and the paint battle – 54 to 40.
Stephen Curry had 28 points and six assists for Golden State but shot just 9-of-21 from the field and 3-of-12 from three whilst Klay Thompson added 21 points and five rebounds on 7-of-13 shooting.
Andrew Wiggins had some nice moments in his first start since his extended layoff finishing with 22 points and five rebounds whilst Gary Payton II added 13 points and six rebounds on 5-of-6 from the field.
The series now shifts to San Francisco for Game 3 on Friday with Golden State staring down the barrel of an unassailable 3-0 lead.
They may also have to prepare for the possibility that Green could find himself suspended for his altercation with Sabonis.
