Preview: Kings on the Edge of Commanding 2-0 Series Lead
The Beam was lit in Sacramento on the night of their first Playoff game in 17 years.
A back-and-fourth duel between two dominant guard trios dazzled down the stretch.
The combination of former Kentucky Wildcats’ De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk would prove to be too much. Both combined for a stunning 70 point performance to take down the reigning champion Golden State Warriors, 126-123.
For Fox, it was the 2nd highest scoring playoff debut in the history of the game, and Monk became the first 6th man with 30+ points and 12+ free throws in a game.
The energy of Golden One Center was electric, and the Kings outscored the Warriors 35-30 in the final quarter to squeak away with the win. That required fending off a shooting onslaught at the end of regulation by Stephen Curry, including an impossible deep corner three with four minutes in the fourth.
Curry scored 13 of his 30 points in the fourth, and the barrage of incredible baskets gave former head coach Mike Brown everything he could handle from a game plan standpoint.
Sending double teams or blitzing him coming off screens just didn’t matter. If he even had a sliver of space, the sharpshooter was continuously hitting shots to keep the Warriors within striking distance.
That wouldn’t be enough to outlast the opposing superstar point guard in the series.
Yet again, the fourth quarter virtuoso took over when the lights shined the brightest.
De’Aaron Fox, the first time All-star, detonated for 38 points in his playoff debut. In every way possible, the guard took control of the game in supreme fashion.
Sacramento accomplished this playoff feat without the added scoring punch of Kevin Huerter, Keegan Murray, and All-NBA center, Domantis Sabonis. The three were a combined 9-34 from the field and never found a consistent offensive rhythm.
Although it was not the best performance from Sabonis offensively, his dominance on the boards created a problem in the middle for Draymond Green and Kevon Looney. The Lithuanian big man finished with 16 rebounds including five offensive rebounds in 35 minutes on the floor.
Luckily, the heroics of Malik Monk and Trey Lyles picked up the slack.
Lyles looked like the perfect modern day big off the bench for the Kings. He’s a player at 6’8” that can guard multiple positions and score at multiple levels. The agility and mobility gives Sacramento a great look, especially when a less athletic Alex Len is on the floor at the same time.
Malik Monk showcased glimpses of this last season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
He is an assertive scorer that has abilities off the bench that resemble the likes of Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams. When the ball is in his hands, Monk is a freak athlete with a pure jumper that almost always seems to go in no matter where he is on the court.
Today, the Kings have an opportunity take a huge early step in the series.
Harnessing onto a 2-0 series lead heading into hostile territory is a priority.
The Warriors were one of the most unstoppable teams at home during the regular season with a 33-8 record at Chase Center.
For now, the mission is to hold off a team that is looking to tie this series at one game a piece. In just the last 10 seasons, a team has only come back from down 0-2 four times.
The pressure now sits on a Championship team that is no stranger to the bright lights.