With Wednesday night's 111-109 loss to the Boston Celtics, the Sacramento Kings have fallen to the 9th seed in the Western Conference standings, four games behind the San Antonio Spurs and L.A. Clippers. Some analysts are ready to write the Kings out of this season's playoffs, but many within the organization are not giving up hope.

Via Noel Harris of the Sacramento Bee:

“We’re in it as long as there’s games left,” said Willie Cauley-Stein, who added that the Kings are close to figuring it out. “We’re coming down to the last possessions. … Each game like this, you learn a little bit more and that’s really all you can ask for besides the win.”

“It’s exciting to have something to play for,” Cauley-Stein added. “This franchise and this city haven’t been close to something like this in awhile. It’s an exciting time to play. You want to be in this race when it comes down to the last 20 games.”

Harrison Barnes, who the Kings acquired ahead of this season's trade deadline, led his new team in scoring on Wednesday night. In 37 minutes of action, the former 7th overall pick racked up 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field (4-of-7 from beyond the arc), eight rebounds, one assist and two steals.

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Though the Kings were defeated, Barnes says the team is playing better:

“As a group, we’re playing better,” Barnes said. “It’s just the little things that come along with trying to make the playoffs. … As long as we continue to push in the right direction, it’ll come around.”

The Kings (32-32 and 3rd in the Pacific Division standings) will be back in action on Saturday, when they'll travel to New York for a matchup against the Knicks.