The Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings are on a collision course again after the regular season a year after they met each other in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. This time, they don't have at least four games to duke it out on the court. On Tuesday, Golden State and the Kings, No. 9 and No. 10 in the Western Conference standings, respectively, will play in a win-or-go-home battle in the Play-in Tournament.
The loser goes on an early vacation and watches the rest of the playoffs from a couch, while the winner advances to the next stage of the Play-in against the losing side in the other matchup between the No. 7 New Orleans Pelicans and the No. 8 Los Angeles Lakers.
Warriors star forward Draymond Green knows better than to look ahead of the Kings. He even shared recently how much he desires to crush Sacramento's NBA title dreams, while also saying it's just going to be business as usual for him and Golden State.
“It’s always a playoff-type game, Green said about the looming do-or-die showdown against the Kings (h/t Kendra Andrews of ESPN). “Their fans want to light the beam and see us lose and beat the crap out of us, and we want to beat the crap out of them … it has brewed into (a NorCal rivalry) but for us it’s another game that we have to win”
Green was spot on in saying the feeling is mutual for both sides. The Kings and their fans want nothing this Tuesday than to beat Golden State as a payback for last year's loss at the hands of the Dubs. That's not to mention Green's transgression in that series that led to a one-game suspension in Game 3 for stomping in the chest of King big man Domantas Sabonis in Game 2.
The Warriors survived Green's suspension as they prevented falling down the dreaded 0-3 series hole by winning Game 3 without Green before winning three of the next four games to complete the comeback and advance to the second round. In Game 7 of the Kings series, Stephen Curry went off for 50 points on 20/38 shooting from the field to lead Golden State to a 120-100 victory on the road. That was the last time the King saw the Warriors in a game beyond the regular season. Will Golden State be as dominant this time around?
Warriors vs Kings 2023-24 regular season recap
The Warriors and the Kings met four times in the 2023-24 NBA regular season and split the series. Golden State showed early dominance in the matchup, as the Dubs won the first two meetings' they defeated Sacramento on the road on Oct. 27, 122-114 then at home on Nov. 1, 102-101. However, the Kings turned the tables on Golden State in the final two meetings. Sacramento took down Curry and company at home on Nov. 28, 124-123, ensuring that there won't be a sweep happening in the head-t0-head. Then the Kings got even with the Warriors with a 134-133 win in San Francisco on Jan. 25.
Based on those four meetings, fans can expect a tight tussle between Golden State and Sacramento this Tuesday. Outside of the first meeting, the results of the other games in the matchup were each decided by just a point.
The Warriors enter the Play-in Tournament game having won four of their last five outings, while the Kings are on shakier form, as they have gone just 1-3 in their last four contests.
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