The Sacramento Kings defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 113-106, on Sunday night, giving them their third consecutive win over the playoff-bound franchise this season. The Kings made a push for a Western Conference playoff bid in 2018-19, but it was for naught, as the West playoff party once again proved difficult to crash. But if their success against the Spurs — whom they swept in a season series for the first time in franchise history — is any indicator, Sacramento may not be far off.
The Kings pick up the season series sweep on Spurs (3-0) for first time in franchise history pic.twitter.com/E7XRh4Ni4l
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) April 1, 2019
Rare is it in the modern NBA for a season series to be so adequately spaced out as the three games between Sacramento and San Antonio were in 2018-19. The Kings won the first installment back on Nov. 12 with Bogdan Bogdanovic serving as their leader scorer in a five-point win. They also won part two on Feb. 4 with rookie Marvin Bagley leading the way en route to a double-double. Bagley wasn't available Sunday, but Buddy Hield was, and he dropped 26 on the Spurs during the seven-point victory.
While on the surface, the two teams mirror one another in few ways, the Spurs remain everything that the Kings want to be. Sacramento last made the postseason in 2005-06, which resulted in a first round exit against, you guessed it, the Spurs.
The Spurs last missed the postseason in 1996-97, a year before Tim Duncan arrived. That streak continues this year even as Duncan is now retired, as is Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker is onto Charlotte for his swan song.
The Kings are a ways off from a two-decade run of playoff appearances, but sweeping a season series from an in-conference rival is certainly a step in the right direction.
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