Trying to control their destiny for a guaranteed playoff spot, the Warriors notched up their 10th road win of the season, defeating the Kings 119-97 in Sacramento on Friday. The Splash Brothers combined for 54 points, as the Dubs outscored the Kings by 17 points in the second half (66-49).
And with a win on Friday, the Warriors can clinch a top six seed in the playoffs with a win in the season finale in Portland on Sunday.
Golden State Warriors vs Sacramento Kings game details
Team leaders
GSW
| points | Follow ups | helps |
| Thompson – 29 | Looney – 16 | Divincenzo – 9 |
| Curry – 25 | Curry – 7 | Looney – 7 |
| Divincenzo – 18 | Divincenzo – 6 | Curry – 6 |
bag
| points | Follow ups | helps |
| Lillis – 15 | Mito – 9 | Mitchell – 5 |
| Mito – 15 | Lyles – 8 | Davis/Dozier – 3 |
| Barnes – 13 | Lynn – 6 | Holmes/Murray – 3 |
Set a defensive tone early
The Warriors set a defensive tone in the first quarter on Friday, holding the Kings to just 16 points, tied for the fewest they have allowed in a quarter all season and the lowest goal percentage by an opponent in the first quarter, 25.9 percent (7-for-27).
Heading into Friday’s game, the 2022-23 Kings are the highest-scoring team of the last 30 seasons, averaging 121.3 points. Conversely, the Warriors have struggled defensively on the road all season, ranking 28th in defense rating (119.6) just outside of Chase. However, the Dubs’ defensive intensity to start the game showed that they boxed in and understood the magnitude of the playoff implications associated with this game.
For the game, the Sacramento Warriors held 38.8 percent from the field and 28.2 percent from 3-point range. Although the Kings attempted 20 more shots than Dubs (primarily due to the Warriors’ 24 turnovers), they shot three fewer, 41-38.
Gary Payton II with no
Kevon Looney recovery features
Kevon Looney leads the league in offensive rebounds (271) and grabbed five more in the first quarter on Friday. After opening the game with a dunk, Looney found both of the Splash Brothers for three-pointers, created by his extra effort on the offensive glass. For the game, he recorded seven assists, tying his second-most in a game of the season, trailing just nine dimes against the Sixers on December 16. In addition, Looney notched a season-high 13 rebounds in his first game. half, the most rebounds in a first half by a Warrior since David Lee in 2013. If he plays in the season finale Sunday against the Blazers, Looney will be the first Warrior to play an entire 82-game season in back-to-back seasons since Anton Jamison nearly 20 years ago. .
Looney’s further efforts lead to a Thompson Splash
Dubs Catch Fire in the third quarter
The Warriors were burning in the third quarter, shooting 65 percent from the field (11-17) and hitting six three-pointers. After Kings quarterback Alex Lane made a layup, the Warriors went on a 9-1 run to extend their lead to 11. Withholding an 11-0 lead, the Dubs regained control, and finished the period with a 13-point lead.
Stephen Curry moves on and splashes out
3-point line by Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson hit five homeouts on Friday, his sixth consecutive game with at least five homeouts, a feat no other player has achieved this season. Thompson led all scorers with 29 points and leads the league in three-pointers made (295).
Klay Thompson plunges the 3 pointer
the next
The Warriors could clinch a top six seed in the 2023 NBA Playoffs at the end of the season against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday (12:30 p.m.; NBCSBA).
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