Kings-Warriors playoff live updates: Sacramento wins, takes 2-0 lead against Golden State

Jason Anderson
Updated ·6 min read
7

Draymond Green ejected

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green was thrown out of the game and could be facing a possible suspension after stomping on Kings center Domantas Sabonis in the fourth quarter of Monday’s playoff game at Golden 1 Center.

Green received an automatic ejection after being issued a Flagrant 2 foul with 7:03 remaining in Game 2 of Golden State’s first-round series against Sacramento. Green them climbed up on the Warriors’ bench in a show of defiance, inciting the crowd while officials reviewed the play. All of his unfolded with NBA commissioner Adam Silver sitting about four rows behind the TNT broadcast table.

Third quarter: Kings 83, Warriors 75

The Warriors committed five team fouls in the first 1:42 to put the Kings in the bonus early, but disaster really struck moments later when Kevon Looney picked up his fourth and fifth fouls, sending him to the bench with 6:51 to play in the third quarter.

Draymond Green, who was on the bench with four fouls, had to come on to replace Looney at center. That left the Warriors with no answer for Sabonis, who gave the Kings their largest lead of the game when he hit a jump hook over Green to put Sacramento up 77-64.

The Kings would lead by as many as 14 before the Warriors battled back to cut the deficit to six on a basket by Andrew Wiggins.

Halftime: Kings 58, Warriors 52

The first quarter was a struggle, but the Kings came alive in the second.

Malik Monk made three 3-pointers in a span of 1:51 to help the Kings open the second quarter with a 13-4 run. They tied the game on Monk’s second long ball and took a 30-27 lead on his third.

And they didn’t stop there.

Sacramento outscored Golden State 23-8 over the first 5:16 to take a 40-31 lead on a breakaway dunk by Davion Mitchell. The Kings went up by 10 on a free throw by Domantas Sabonis before the Warriors came back to tie the game on a 3-pointer by Stephen Curry.

The Kings carried a six-point lead into the locker room at the break after a breakaway dunk by Harrison Barnes and two free throws by Sabonis with 4.2 seconds remaining.

Sacramento Kings guard Davion Mitchell (15) celebrates a basket during Game 2 of the first-round NBA playoff series at Golden 1 Center on Monday.
Sacramento Kings guard Davion Mitchell (15) celebrates a basket during Game 2 of the first-round NBA playoff series at Golden 1 Center on Monday.

First quarter: Warriors 23, Kings 17

The Kings came out cold for the second game in a row, going 0 of 11 from 3-point range to start the game after going 2 of 11 to begin Game 1. Malik Monk finally made one with 3:00 remaining in the opening period, but it came after the whistle when Jordan Poole was called for a foul away from the ball.

The Kings didn’t make a 3-pointer that counted until De’Aaron Fox drained one with 1:16 to play in the first quarter. Kings coach Mike Brown went 10 deep in the first quarter while searching for answers, bringing Monk, Davion Mitchell, Terence Davis, Trey Lyles and Alex Len off the bench.

The Kings went 8 of 21 (.381) from the field and 1 of 13 (.077) from 3-point range. The Warriors shot 47.4% while making 3 of 8 (.375) from beyond the arc.

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) steals the ball from Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during Game 2 of the first-round NBA playoff series at Golden 1 Center on Monday, April 17, 2023.
Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) steals the ball from Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during Game 2 of the first-round NBA playoff series at Golden 1 Center on Monday, April 17, 2023.

Status updates

Andrew Wiggins will be back in the starting lineup and Jordan Poole will play Monday when the Golden State Warriors face the Kings in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series at Golden 1 Center.

A league source told The Sacramento Bee that Wiggins will start, confirming a report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Wiggins came off the bench to score 17 points on 7-of-16 shooting in Game 1 after missing the last 25 games of the regular season due to personal reasons.

The Warriors announced that Poole has been cleared to play after going through pregame warmups. Poole was listed as questionable after spraining his left ankle during Saturday’s 126-123 loss to the Kings in Game 1. Poole was clearly in pain but remained in the game, finishing with 17 points.

Poole played all 82 games this season despite recurring issues with his left ankle. He averaged a career-high 20.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 43% from the field and 33.6% from 3-point range.

Bring the noise

Kings fans have shown up in force to create another electric environment at Golden 1 Center.

More than 18,000 towel-waiving fans remained on their feet while public address announcer Scott Moak whipped them into a frenzy during pregame introductions.

Purple promise

When Kings minority owner Phil Oates makes a promise, he keeps it. Years ago, Oates told friend and Mikuni restaurant owner Taro Mikuni he would dye his hair purple when the Kings returned to the playoffs. A man of his word, Oates made good on his promise.

Sacramento Kings minority owner Phil Oates died his hair purple for the NBA playoffs, making good on a promise to friend and Mikuni’s owner Taro Mikuni.
Sacramento Kings minority owner Phil Oates died his hair purple for the NBA playoffs, making good on a promise to friend and Mikuni’s owner Taro Mikuni.

Watch party

The Kings have announced plans for another outdoor watch party as they prepare to host the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series Monday at Golden 1 Center.

Section 916, located on L Street between 5th and 6th streets, will open at 5:30 p.m. with tipoff set for 7 p.m. Admission is free, but fans must RSVP at Kings.com/playoffs. Fans will be admitted on a first-come first-served basis until capacity is reached. An RSVP does not guarantee admission.

The standing-room-only outdoor viewing area will feature three giant screens where fans can watch the game. Fans will have access to restrooms and food trucks. Outside food and drinks are not allowed. Golden 1 Center’s bag policy and prohibited items list will be enforced.

For more information, visit Kings.com/playoffs.

Sacramento Kings fans including Kimberly Del Carmen, left, and Joseph Deleon, center, celebrate at the outdoor Section 916 watch party during Game 1 on Saturday.
Sacramento Kings fans including Kimberly Del Carmen, left, and Joseph Deleon, center, celebrate at the outdoor Section 916 watch party during Game 1 on Saturday.

E-40 ruled out

Earl Stevens, better known as E-40, is reportedly not planning to attend Game 2 after he was ejected from Game 1 on Saturday.

The Bay Area rap star issued a statement saying he was “subjected to disrespectful heckling” from fans. He said he was kicked out after turning to address one heckler “in an assertive but polite manner.”

E-40 has alleged racial bias on the part of arena security. The Kings organization said it is investigating the facts and circumstances regarding the situation.

Warriors at Kings

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Golden 1 Center

TV: TNT

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140

Odds: Warriors -2.0

Over/under: 239.5

Injury report

Warriors: QUESTIONABLE — Jordan Poole (ankle). OUT —Andre Iguodala (wrist); Ryan Rollins (foot).

Kings: OUT — Matthew Dellavedova (finger).

Schedule

Game 1: Kings 126, Warriors 123

April 17 vs. Golden State Warriors

April 20 at Golden State Warriors

April 23 at Golden State Warriors

* April 26 vs. Golden State Warriors

* April 28 at Golden State Warriors

* April 30 vs. Golden State Warriors

* If necessary