Sacramento Kings Game 7: Fans bring hope, cheers and taunts to finale at Golden 1 Center

Sacramento Kings fans were unable to will their team to a victory in Sunday’s Game 7 against the Golden State Warriors.

The Kings lost 120-100, ending a dream season, where the team returned to the playoffs for the first time in 16 years. This was the third Game 7 in the team’s history and only the second the city has hosted since the team moved to Sacramento in 1985. The Kings inexperience was too much to prevail against the four-time NBA champion Warriors, who experienced this high pressure environment multiple times over the last decade, most notably in 2016 when they played in three Game 7s.

Regardless, fans reveled in the team’s historic moment as thousands packed into Sacramento’s Downtown Commons late morning. They donned purple and aggressively shook their cowbells, ready to cheer on their team all afternoon.

As the game went on, even while losing, Kings fans delighted in the Warriors’ players misery.

Chris Spencer, 23, carried around a blue poster board that said, “stick to podcasting,” with a cutout of the Warriors’ Draymond Green on it. Green’s podcast has garnered headlines since its inception two years ago because it features one of the NBA’s most charismatic and often polarizing players.

Spencer, a Sacramento native, said Kings officials would not let him into Golden 1 Center with the the sign, so he watched the game from Section 916, a viewing area outside the arena.

“We have this sign because (Green) ain’t good at basketball,” Spencer said. “He’s got to go quit basketball and get back on that podcast. It’s not even good. I turn that on when I want to go to sleep because it’s so boring.”

Green scored 8 points on 3-7 shooting, 9 assists and 6 rebounds in the Game 7.

Fans grapple with Kings falling behind

During the third the Kings’ fate crystallized. They entered the fourth quarter trailing 90-81.

As the Kings struggled to answer the Warriors, Sacramento fans began to question their team’s chances.

Marcus Molina, 38, watched the game in Section 916. He had a Kings logo tattooed on the back of his head and expressed less confidence given how the team had played thus far.

“I’m optimistic, but the way we’re missing things right now, three-pointers and rebounds, the opportunity won’t be there,” Molina said. “You can’t do that.”

Patience paid off for bar owner

Limelight owner John Mikacich, watched the second quarter of the Kings game on the outside patio of his Alhambra Boulevard bar as fans cheered. Mikacich is a fourth generation Sacramantan and has been a fan since he was a child.

“It’s been a patient several years,” Mikacich said. “Everybody is starting to get in their groove. The effort is there, the shots are there, the confidence is there. I think we are playing well.”

Nearby, William Pitts yelled “light the beam” during the second quarter. Pitts said he felt confident the Kings would finish off Sunday’s game with a win.

“They’re playing hard,” Pitts said. “We’re in Sacramento with great energy and the city is about to keep going.”

Dressed to win

Diego Mlakar, 18, rocked a purple suit and a gray Keegan Murray jersey at Section 916. Mlakar, also a Sacramento native, wore that same suit to prom last week at River City High School.

For Mlakar, the Kings success this season has been a nice change of pace compared to the past 16 years of no playoffs.

“It’s amazing to be able to come to a game and expect, not even expect ... to hope that they’re going to win,” Mlakar said.

Nearly two hours before the game started, fans were already in full form. “Light the beam” chants could be heard two blocks away from the arena and Downtown Commons. And hundreds of people sang along to “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers as they waited to enter both the stadium and Section 916.

“It’s going to be a great game,” said Pablo Dirksen, a Kings fan watching the game at Clubhouse 56 in downtown. “Fight to the end.”

Dirksen was watching the game beside his partner Christine Benson, who was cheering for the Warriors.

Opposing fan allegiances among family and friends was a common theme on Sunday.

Outside the arena, Ajani Jackson, 43, and his 11-year old son both a Warriors jerseys. They were there for a particularly intense father-son day. Jackson’s son has been cheering on Golden State since he was 2-years-old, yelling “Stephen Curry” at the TV.

Jackson said the family would be fine with either team winning the final game.

Community turns out for Game 7

Omar Velasco, 20, said he attended more Kings games when they were held at Arco Arena, but Sunday would be his second time watching the team play at Golden 1 Center. He credited the Kings for creating a community-based atmosphere in Downtown Commons.

“Here there’s restaurants, bars and clothing stores,” Velasco said. “In the end, it all stems from the Kings and Golden 1.”

Back down the street at Clubhouse 56, fans were fully committed to their Sacramento allegiance.

“I feel good, we are winning and going to the next round,” said Kevin Gill, while wearing a De’Aaron Fox jersey.

Charlotte Wells, 74, could hardly contain her enthusiasm about the game.

“When it comes to playoff basketball it’s really very exciting,” Wells said. “And when the Kings haven’t done it in 16 years that’s very exciting.”