The Kings lost at home 123-116 on Wednesday night against a Warriors team that has been struggling on the road this season. This defeat comes at the worst of times, since Golden State now leads 3-2 in the series, and will have the opportunity to conclude it at Chase Center.
“We know that our backs are against the wall” found De’Aaron Fox. “We know it’s hard to win there. But in the end, you have to take the matches one after the other and we will try to prepare ourselves, bring a good dose of physicality from the start and try to win a match. One loss and the season is over, but we’re thinking one game at a time.”.
The Kings cracked
In one week, the Kings went from dream to nightmare, or rather from euphoria to anguish. While leading 2-0 in the series, with Draymond Green suspended for Game 3, the momentum completely swung in favor of the Warriors, who have just pocketed their third straight victory in the series. However, Mike Brown’s players entered Game 5 well with an 8/12 from 3-pointers. But lo and behold, they only got two in the rest of the game, finishing 10/34 (29.4%) from behind the arc.
They were also eaten inside, leaving Kevon Looney to gobble up 22 rebounds including 7 offensive. Result ? The penalty was immediate with 18 “second chance” points scored by Steve Kerr’s men. To top it off, the “Splash Bros” have accumulated 56 points, while Draymond Green has his best game on offense in five years!
There is no coincidence, the Warriors reacted as champions, and simply outclassed the Kings, who are now back to the wall.
“There is a feeling of despair” notes Davion Mitchell. “It’s victory or vacation. We have to do like them, when we were 2-0 up and they did a really good job starting strong. They bumped into us in Game 3, and kind of took over. We have to have the same mindset when we step onto the pitch. They are a very good team, especially at home, but we have to get at them first.”.
Back against the wall
The Kings are on the verge of elimination after leading 2-0 in this series. Worse, they will have to save their skins at Chase Center, where the Warriors have won 14 of their last 15 games.
The mission promises to be very delicate. But one stat gives them hope: Sacramento has the best road record in the West this season. Now is the time to prove it.
“If we lose, our season is over” concludes Mike Brown. “It’s as simple as that and that in itself should reinforce the sense of urgency and awareness of the need to do something. I have full confidence in our guys to be ready to do something on Friday.”.
| Shots | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | bp | Int | CT | party | Points |
| De’aaron Fox | 73 | 33.4 | 51.2 | 32.4 | 78.0 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 6.1 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 25.0 |
| Domantas Sabonis | 79 | 34.6 | 61.5 | 37.3 | 74.2 | 3.2 | 9.1 | 12.3 | 7.3 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 19.1 |
| Kevin Hurter | 75 | 29.4 | 48.5 | 40.2 | 72.5 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 15.2 |
| Harrison Barnes | 82 | 32.5 | 47.3 | 37.4 | 84.7 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 15.0 |
| Malik Monk | 77 | 22.3 | 44.8 | 35.9 | 88.9 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 13.5 |
| Keegan Murray | 80 | 29.8 | 45.3 | 41.1 | 76.5 | 1.1 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 12.2 |
| Trey Lyles | 74 | 16.9 | 45.8 | 36.3 | 81.5 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 4.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 7.6 |
| Terence Davis | 64 | 13.1 | 42.3 | 36.6 | 79.1 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 6.7 |
| Davion Mitchell | 80 | 18.1 | 45.4 | 32.0 | 80.6 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 5.6 |
| Chimezie Metu | 66 | 10.4 | 58.9 | 23.7 | 74.0 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 4.9 |
| Kessler Edwards | 22 | 13.9 | 43.5 | 34.9 | 76.9 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 3.9 |
| Richaun Holmes | 42 | 8.3 | 61.8 | 62.5 | 78.9 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 3.1 |
| Neemias Queta | 5 | 5.7 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 2.4 |
| Alex Len | 26 | 6.2 | 53.3 | 0.0 | 68.8 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 1.7 |
| Keon Ellis | 16 | 4.4 | 43.8 | 50.0 | 57.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 1.5 |
| Matt Dellavedova | 32 | 6.6 | 34.0 | 33.3 | 57.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 1.5 |
| Pj Dozier | 16 | 5.0 | 30.3 | 12.5 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.4 |
| Kz Okpala | 35 | 7.1 | 42.1 | 33.3 | 87.5 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 |
| Chima Moneke | 2 | 4.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Deonte Burton | 2 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
