Keegan Murray shot the lights out, while Keon Ellis served as the unsung hero, as the Sacramento Kings avenged their 2023 playoff defeat to Golden State, sending the Warriors home via 118-94 rout in their sudden-death Play-In Tournament showdown.
A dominant #SoFiPlayIn dub for the Kings 👑
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 17, 2024
Murray: 32 PTS | 8 3PM | 9 REB
Fox: 24 PTS | 4 REB | 6 AST
Sabonis: 16 PTS | 12 REB | 7 AST pic.twitter.com/iOLhHl5I4j
Murray had a team-high 32 points built on eight triples to help the Kings arrange another win-or-go-home game against the New Orleans Pelicans, with the winner facing the top-seed Oklahoma City Thunder.
7 TRIPLES AND COUNTING FOR KEEGAN MURRAY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/d7RlY78I95
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 17, 2024
De’Aaron Fox finished with 24 points, including 14 points in a rampaging third quarter display, while Domantas Sabonis had 16 points, 12 rebounds and seven dimes.
De'Aaron Fox has 14 in the 3Q 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2024
Kings in control as they look to extend their season!#SoFiPlayIn on TNT pic.twitter.com/TjHp9vuPmy
After a tight opening half, the Kings outscored the Warriors, 64-44, in the second half to redeem their heart-breaking loss in Game 7 of last year’s West opening round.
However, the story of the night is Ellis, the undrafted player out of Alabama, who provided key baskets and stingy defense on two-time MVP Steph Curry.
Ellis had an all-around game of 15 points, five assists, four rebounds, three steals and three blocks while being the primary defender of Curry.
KEON ELLIS DOES IT AGAIN 🔒
He's got 3 blocks and 3 steals through 3 quarters on TNT! pic.twitter.com/dKo8qaNRyp
— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2024
Sacramento connected 18 triples, turned 18 Warriors’ turnovers to 12 points and moved the ball better with a 28-19 assist advantage.
Meanwhile, Curry, who erupted for 50-point in that Game 7 win, was limited to 22 points and had six turnovers.
Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga added 16 markers.
Klay Thompson, who is set to become a free agent in the summer, missed all of his 10 field goal attempts and was held scoreless.
Trailing 48-34 with 4:21 seconds left in the second frame, the Warriors launched a 16-6 run to close within four at the half, 54-50, with Kuminga scoring 10 points alone in the quarter.
JK got rolling in the second quarter 🙌
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 17, 2024
Golden State now fell to 0-3 all-time in Play-In Tournament games and only won one playoff series since the 2022 title run.
The battle for the final West playoff spot will take place on Saturday, April 20, 9:30 a.m. LIVE on NBA TV Philippines.
