For the fans: De’Aaron Fox leads Kings past Warriors
After a 17-year drought, the Sacramento Kings returned to the playoffs with a bang, thanks to their superstar guard, De’Aaron Fox. In a thrilling playoff debut, Fox led the Kings to a 126-123 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.
Fox Scores 38 Points in Playoff Debut
Fox was the standout player of the game, scoring 38 points, including 29 in the second half. His performance tied for the second-highest scoring playoff debut in NBA history, with only Luka Doncic scoring more points in a playoff debut (42) three years ago.
Fox Lights Ceremonial Beam to Celebrate Victory
As the home crowd counted down the final seconds of the game, Fox lit the ceremonial beam, celebrating the end of 17 seasons of playoff drought for Sacramento. Speaking after the game, Fox said, “Sacramento showed out tonight. But doing this for the fans, just knowing the way that they support this team through thick and thin — really thin. It’s just a testament to the way they are.
Kings Close Game Strong Against Warriors
The game was a nail-biter from start to finish, with the inexperienced Kings fighting hard against the defending champions. After Stephen Curry hit a corner 3-pointer to give Golden State a 114-112 lead with about four minutes left, the Kings responded with seven in a row starting with a 3-pointer from Fox.
The Warriors didn’t go away, cutting the deficit to one on a layup by Curry in the final minute. But Andrew Wiggins missed a corner 3 for the lead in the closing seconds of his first game in more than two months. Malik Monk made two free throws to make it 126-123 with 2.9 seconds left, and Curry missed a runner from 3 at the buzzer, giving the Kings their first playoff win since April 30, 2006, against San Antonio.
Monk and Sabonis Also Shine
While Fox was the star of the show, he had some help from his teammates, including Malik Monk, who finished with 32 points off the bench, and Domantas Sabonis, who had 12 points and 16 rebounds.
Festive Atmosphere in Sacramento
It was a festive atmosphere in Sacramento, with fans gathering outside the arena hours before the start of the Kings’ first playoff game in 17 years. The arena was deafening, with some fans even bringing back the cowbells that were so common during the Kings’ playoff runs two decades ago.
The excitement appeared to take a toll on the inexperienced Kings, who struggled shooting the ball early. Sacramento shot just 39.2% in the first half and trailed Golden State 61-55 at halftime.
However, the Kings fought back in the third quarter, ending the quarter on a 15-4 run fueled by 10 points from Trey Lyles to take a 91-90 lead into the fourth, igniting the crowd.
Fans Get Chills From Loud Arena
“It was incredible all night,” said forward Harrison Barnes. “When guys ran out for layup lines with how loud it got in there, I think everyone got chills.
Coach Mike Brown Praises Fox
Kings coach Mike Brown was full of praise for Fox, saying, “You need guys like that on your side because they know everything that we’re throwing at them. There are no secrets. You have to have guys on your team that can go make plays, and Foxy went and made plays tonight.
In summary, it was a historic night for the Sacramento Kings and their fans. De’Aaron Fox delivered a phenomenal performance, scoring 38 points to lead his team to victory in their first playoff game in 15 years. He showed his superstar potential by tying for the second-highest scoring playoff debut in NBA history, only behind Luka Doncic’s 42 points.
The Kings, who were considered underdogs in the matchup against the defending champion Golden State Warriors, fought hard and closed out the game with clutch plays on both ends of the court. Malik Monk, who came off the bench, also played a pivotal role with 32 points.
The atmosphere at the Golden 1 Center was electric, with fans showing up early and loud, even bringing back the cowbells that were a staple of the Kings’ playoff runs in the early 2000s. The team’s success-starved supporters finally got to witness a playoff win after enduring an NBA-record 16-year drought.
This victory not only marked a significant moment for the Kings but also showed the resilience and determination of the team and their fans. As they move forward in the playoffs, they will undoubtedly carry this momentum and energy with them, hoping to create even more history for the franchise.
check out :-
Most Popular&Most Played||Most Popular&Most Played GAMES IN THE WORLD 2022