Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images
The Sacramento Kings are still alive.
Led by huge performances from Keegan Murray (32 points, nine rebounds, 8-of-13 from three) and De’Aaron Fox (24 points, six assists), the Kings beat the Golden State Warriors 118-94 in Play-In Tournament action on Tuesday night.
Sacramento Kings @SacramentoKings
the most well-known name in the city. pic.twitter.com/1nWI2XJVCx
NBA on TNT @NBAonTNT
Fox flies in for the putback JAM 💥 pic.twitter.com/wXiNwbbXTn
Sacramento Kings @SacramentoKings
the middy committee is in session. pic.twitter.com/EydppB298Q
NBA on TNT @NBAonTNT
7 TRIPLES AND COUNTING FOR KEEGAN MURRAY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/d7RlY78I95
NBA @NBA
De’Aaron Fox has 14 in the 3Q 🔥
Kings in control as they look to extend their season!#SoFiPlayIn on TNT pic.twitter.com/TjHp9vuPmy
The Kings will now face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. Golden State’s season is over, and it ended with a whimper.
Stephen Curry put up 22 points but turned the ball over six times. His longtime running mate, Klay Thompson, had perhaps the worst game of his career, finishing 0-of-10 from the field without a single point. It was the rotten cherry on top of what has been a pretty tough season for Thompson, and all before he hits free agency this summer.
For the Warriors, it felt like the potential end of an era. For the Kings, however, the 2023-24 season still has at least one more story to tell.
And it was largely due to Murray and Fox, who were the toast of social media after the contest:
NBA Memes @NBAMemes
Keegan Murray to Steph and Klay right now… pic.twitter.com/5J1i9TM2A6
Jackson Frank @jackfrank_jjf
Not gonna pretend to have watched all of Keegan Murray’s NBA games, but given the magnitude of this one and the responsibility he’s shouldering on both ends, would be surprised if many or any are better than tonight’s.
JayMarZZ @JayMarZZ
Keegan Murray is having the game Klay Thompson use to have.
jeff @DedicationHoops
i would do the keegan murray chant with you in any universe
Chris Herring @Herring_NBA
Sacramento’s love for Keegan Murray remains one of the coolest things in the NBA
John Dickinson @JDJohnDickinson
Warriors got the matchup they wanted and got smoked. Just out worked from the beginning and throughout except for late 2nd quarter and early 3rd quarter run. Bad shots, turnovers, excellent Kings defense and hustle. Keegan Murray was tremendous.
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Really seeing how much Keegan Murray has improved as a defender in a year’s time. He was absolutely BBQ’d by Steph last year–although this isn’t the same Steph either.
Ball Don’t Stop @balldontstop
De’Aaron Fox is as good as any point guard in the NBA.
That tier and constant ranking talk is so casual because the league is so deep in talent now. Any night could be a certain guys night. Fox could cook against any All-NBA guard on any given night.
30🅿️roblemz @30problemz
De’Aaron Fox showing killer instinct gotta respect it.
BBALLBABE @BBALLBABE6
Keegan Murray & De’Aaron Fox are so fast, controlling the pace & just carving up the Warriors any way they want.
With their speed, pace & Sabonis dominating & playmaking, the Kings are really putting a 2 way collective clinic beatdown on the Dubs.
Very disappointing effort
This was a complete team effort, with Domantas Sabonis offering a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double and all five starters scoring at least 15 points.
This was a pretty simple result to break down.
The Kings hit perimeter shots at an impressive clip (18-of-39 from deep, 46.2 percent); the Warriors did not (10-of-32 from three, 31.3 percent). The Kings took care of the ball (eight turnovers); the Warriors did not (16 turnovers).
And Sacramento’s best players stepped up. Curry and Thompson did not, at least by the lofty standards they’ve set over the course of their careers.
Sacramento still has to get past New Orleans, and all that earns them is a tough first-round matchup with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. But hope remains alive in Sacramento, and if Murray and Fox keep playing like they did on Tuesday, the Kings will be a tough out.
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