SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Sacramento Kings challenged themselves to play with the identity that got them this far in the first place: push the ball in transition, make all the fuss, defend with fury.
When Stephen Curry came through on a big 3-pointer or driving layup, the Kings performed to maintain momentum. Time and time again, they quieted a rowdy crowd counting on celebrating yet another victorious playoff series.
Not yet, Dub Nation. Coach Mike Brown’s Kings are determined to do more in their return to the postseason stage – they want Light the Beam at home in California’s capital.
Malik Monk scored 28 points, De’Aaron Fox added 26 points and 11 assists, and the playoff newcomer Kings avoided elimination in their first round playoff series by beating Curry and the Golden State Warriors 118-99 on Friday night in Game 6 .
Now a winner-takes-all Game 7 is back in Sacramento on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s a big opportunity,” Fox said.
Rookie Keegan Murray scored 15 points on four 3-pointers and grabbed 12 rebounds for his first playoff double-double. these with their special season at stake.
Kevin Huerter, who struggled all series with his shot – 20 of 52 came into play – hit a 3 with 6:23 left and another with 4:58 left as Sacramento gave its fans at least one more chance to beat these upstart Kings to encourage.
“This is exactly what I expected and I expect a little more from both teams in Golden 1,” said Monk. “We’re going to be prepared.”
Curry scored 29, Klay Thompson 22 and Kevon Looney pulled down another 13 rebounds to give him an NBA-leading 85 this postseason. He came off a career-high 22 rebounds in a Game 5 win at Golden 1 Center.
But the Kings, in the postseason for the first time since 2006, answered almost every major Golden State play in the third quarter and took advantage of regular errors. They pushed the Warriors to the boards.
“I thought we played hard, but we didn’t play smart. We didn’t execute our game plan,” said Looney. “We know what we had to do to win. All the little things, coming back into transition, the boxouts, the revenue, various things like that, we haven’t executed it.
The Kings led 90-80 going into the final 12 minutes. Curry hit an early 3, only for Trey Lyles to connect moments later. When Curry drove into the next possession for a layup, Monk made one himself.
Curry’s 3 with 9:28 left had Golden State within 99-89 before Fox struck.
Fox’s first runs came to a jumper with 2:18 left in the first on his first shot. The next time he scored again, still with a broken index finger on his shooting hand. He shot 10 for 18.
Sacramento snapped a six-game losing streak on the Warriors’ home floor that ended in a victory on February 25, 2020.
“They came out with more power and energy and performed better. The right team won, that’s for sure,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “They came in and deserved the win. And now we have to regroup and get ready for Game 7.”
Lyles finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds as others took the lead with Domantas Sabonis in deep trouble. The big man had seven points and 11 rebounds before fouling with 5:17 left.
Fox was frustrated by his poor fourth quarter in Wednesday’s 123-116 loss in which he went 0 for 6 and was scoreless – the most shots he had ever taken in a final period without scoring.
Draymond Green came off the bench for the third time in a row and received a rousing standing ovation when he checked in for the first time at 6:26 in the first quarter. He had 10 assists.
Both teams took a while to warm up, with Sacramento starting 6 for 23 and Golden State 6 for 19.
The kings were unfazed.
“We have had a great spirit, we have all year. We’ve been responding all year,” Huerter said. “We have not lost confidence. We knew we had a Game 7 at home. We are capable of winning in this building. Our offense has fallen asleep, I think, most of this series. We just know that if we can get back to ourselves, we can continue this series. We did that tonight. But our confidence never wavered.”
TIP INS
Kings: The Sacramento bench outscored the Warriors’ reserves 52-21. … The Kings were 4 of 16 to start deep, but finished 17 of 45. … Sabonis suffered a cut under his left eye on a jump ball with Looney in the second quarter.
Warriors: Curry missed three free throws, practically unheard of as his team went off the line 25 of 35. … The Warriors gave up 23 points on their 19 turnovers. … Green got his third foul at 7:09 of the second quarter. … Golden State is 8-3 in Game 6s dating back to their title run in 2015 and 22-11 in close-out games.
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