Sacramento Kings 97 vs 114 Golden State Warriors summary: stats and highlights | NBA Playoffs Game 3
The Golden State Warriors are right back in their first round playoff series after taking down the Sacramento Kings in a wire-to-wire win in Game 3. Steph Curry led the Warriors scoring 36 points in the 114-97 victory.
Green suspended, Looney steps up
Draymond Green was suspended after stomping Domantas Sabonis in Game 2, and the Warriors were left to head into their must win matchup short handed. Everyone seemed to step up the intensity with the heart on soul of this team out for Game 3, and it was evident from the very start.
In the last game in Sacramento, the Warriors got themselves in trouble early on by turning the ball over and giving up offensive rebound after offensive rebound. On Thursday night the script flipped and the Warriors sured things up in possession and on the glass.
Both teams shot terribly from the field in the opening quarters, but the Warriors didn’t commit a turnover in the first quarter and started to hit the boards hard thanks to the brilliant play of Kevon Looney. Looney picked up the slack in the absence of Green, grabbing 20 rebonds, 9 of those coming on the offensive end.
Fox contained by Warriors D
Curry, like the rest of the players on both sides got off to a slow start, but turned it on after the first quarter change. He had 15 points in the second quarter and the Warriors would pull out to a double digit lead just before the half.
De’Aaron Fox had a fantastic first two games to start his playoff career, but struggled at the Chase Center in Game 3, starting the game 5/14 from the field. He would end the game with 26 points, but no one else seemed to find their rhythm on the offensive end.
Give credit to the Warriors defense, which looked much improved after the first two games in Sacramento. They held the Kings to 38% from the field and kept the highest scoring team in the league under 100 points.
Curry, GS cruise to victory in 2nd half
Curry and Andrew Wiggins kept a comfortable cushion over the Kings in the third quarter, as Wiggins continued his impressive series with 20 points and 7 rebounds in the win. The Kings would never cut the lead to under 8 in the second half, and the Warriors would eventually put Sacramento away late in the fourth, stretching the lead out to as much as 23.
This series seems like it’s starting from scratch now as the Warriors look to have all the momentum heading into Game 4 on Sunday at the Chase Center.
This series feels like it's brand new after Golden State's win on Thursday night. All eyes shift on Game 4 on Sunday at the Chase Center.
Kuminga with the exclamation point in a night where the Warriors would drag down 19 offensive boards.
Looney did a little bit of everything in Game 3. He had just 4 points but grabbed 20 rebounds, 9 on the offensive end and had 9 assists as he dominated down low.
Steph came into the game averaging 29 points in the series but in Game 3 we saw him take over a game and carry his team to victory.
When the Warriors play defense like they did and Curry shoots like he did on Thursday, Golden State is nearly impossible to beat.
The 20 year old Moody had 13 points of the bench and he gave some great production to the Warriors with Draymond suspended.
Curry didn't slow down in the third quarter, he had 13 points after the break and he and Wiggins would keep the Kings at an arm's distance.
Curry's three launched the Warriors into the second half with all the momentum and they would cruise to victory in the final two quarters.
Golden State pulled out to a double digit lead at the end of the first half, and they would keep that cushion until the finish line.
Curry had 15 points in the second quarter, and this is the moment his night started to turn around.
Golden State's defense kept the top scoring team in the league to under 100 points in the biggest game of the season.
The Warriors were beaten up on the glass in Game 2, but with no Draymond they put a premium on hitting the boards and it paid off on Thursday night.
Steph got started early with this three ball, but ended the first quarter with three points. He'd save his best for the final three quarters.
IT'S ALL OVER!!! THE WARRIORS NEEDED A WIN AND THEY GOT IT ON A NIGHT IN WHICH THEY DIDN'T HAVE DRAYMOND GREEN!
Murray with the jumper and that's going to do it!
Curry called for a take foul and Metu hits a FT, and then Dozier drills a three ball.
Looney on the jam and what hasn't he done tonight??
Poole at the line and he hits both FTs after the Murray foul.
Fox in the lane and he finishes with a floater.
Curry with another three ball and he's got 34 on the night!
Murray answers back with a three ball, but it's too late for the Kings to mount a comeback now.
Thompson drills a long two with a foot on the line out of the timeout.
Barnes gets the roll on a pull up three ball!
Thompson pulls up from the mid range and hits the jumper from the wing.
Thompson with a quick trigger three ball and he drills it on a slow night by his standards.
Sabonis down low and he gets the jump hook to go in traffic.
Kuminga following up with a tip slam and the Warriors are killing the Kings on the boards.
Sabonis with a slam out of the timeout out and there might be time for one final push from the Kings.
Timeout Warriors with under 8 to go.
DiVencenzo nails the three ball off the kick out from Looney!
Huerter gets the floater in the paint out of the timeout.
Looney finds Kuminga running the baseline and attacks the rack with a jam!
Timeout Kings with 9:09 to go in the fourth!
Curry pull up from the logo and the Warriors are starting to pull away in this fourth quarter!
Barnes drills a three ball in a much needed possession as the Kings are doing everything they can to stay in this game.
Curry dashing to the rack and DiVencezo gets another assist in back to back possessions.
Kuminga on the lay up after the dish from DiVencenzo.
Wiggins working on the block and finishes the short shot off the glass.
Monk gets to the line to start the final quarter and he hits both FTs. He's got just 4 points tonight after two great games in Sacramento.
We are heading to the fourth quarter here from Golden State!
The Warriors are keeping the Kings at a distance and have 12 more minutes to defend their lead and win their first game in this series.
Lyles heads to the line after the foul on Moody and he hits both FTs.
Moody fouled by Fox and he hits both FTs.
Fox gets the offensive board, gets the put back and gets fouled by DiVencenzo. FT is good for the thee point play.
Fox strings a three ball looking to cut into this lead before the fourth quarter.
Steph working his magic at the top of the key, dances around one defender and he flips it over Len on the finger roll and gets the foul!!! FT is good to complete the three point play! He's got 28 on the night.
Sabonis was fouled by Moody and he hits one of two FTs with under 2:30 in the third.
Curry steps into a deep three after the Warriors came up with a block on Sabonis on the other end and the lead is up to a game high 16!!
DiVencenzo finds Moody on the baseline and he throws down the jam and the Kings take a timeout with 3:13 to go in the third quarter.
Barnes gets the corner three to drop after the kickout by Monk!
Moody drives baseline and he gets the bucket and the foul on Davis! FT is good to complete the three point play.
Fox gets the floater and the foul on Green, but misses the FT.
Poole drills a three finally, after missing his first five attempts from DT!
Sabonis spinning to the rack and finishing with the lay up off the glass.
Poole getting into the mix on the offensive boards, and he goes to the line to shoot two FTs, hitting both.
Fox to the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on Poole.
Wiggins snaps the net on a pull up three and it's him and Curry doing everything on the offensive end for the Warriors.
Curry stops the bleeding with a lay up to put the lead back to 9.
Murray to the line after the foul on Curry and he hits one of two FTs.
Barnes going back to the rack in transition, and the 14 point lead has been cut to 8.
Barnes with the jam on the baseline after the dump off from Sabonis.
Huerter drills the short jumper and the Warriors will call a timeout as the offense finally starts to warm up from both teams.
Timeout GS with 9:37 to go in the third quarter.
Curry with his first points of the second half after the assist from Poole.
Barnes eases to the iron after a made bucket, and that was too easy for the Kings in the eyes of Steve Kerr.
Poole drive baseline and gets the reverse to drop in traffic.
Sabonis with the lay up, and he had a quiet first quarter.
Wiggins with back to back buckets after streaking to the iron and finishing with a finger roll.
Fox goes to the line after getting fouled on the jumper by Wiggins and he hits both FTs.
Wiggins starts the third quarter with a lay up after Looney gets another offensive board and the dump off that leads to the easy bucket.
WE ARE BACK IN PLAY FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION FROM THE CHASE CENTER!
Curry missed the first three ball before the buzzer but Looney got his 6th offensive board which led to the Curry buzzer beater to put the Warriors up four at the half.
The Warriors stretched the lead out to the largest of the night after this steal and score from Curry and Poole.
Curry had just 3 points after 12 minutes, but exploded for 15 in the second half and this was one of the turning points in his first half.
Monk has been fantastic off the bench in this series, but he has just 2 points through the first half.
The Warriors 10 offensive rebounds have led to second chance points in the first half which is a big part of why GS is leading. Thompson has 6 points on the night, all from DT.
This was Curry's first and only bucket of the first quarter, but Andrew Wiggins and Klay Thompson would carry GS from then until the second quarter.
The Warriors shot just 34.7% from the field, but Kevon Looney had 6 of the Warriors 10 offensive boards in the first half. Sacramento is struggling even more from the field. They are just 32.7% from the field and the top scoring team in the league has just 41 points at halftime.
Curry leads all scorers with 18, and Wiggins added another 11.
Fox has 12, and Huerter has 9 but the Kings have really struggled scoring the basketball in the first two quarters.
Looney with another offensive board, and he found Steph on the kick out and he drilled the three ball! Golden State are going to halftime with their largest lead of the game!
Fox gets the floater to go, but he's just 5/14 from the field tonight.
Curry comes up with the steal and finds Poole streaking to the bucket for the fast break lay up with 1:30 to go in the half.
Poole on the bounce pass across the baseline to Curry who got the reverse lay up to go.
Barnes at the line after the Curry foul and he hits one of two FTs.
Huerter drops a three ball from the top of the key after the ball screen from Sabonis!
Curry hits the third of three and the lead is out to 11, the largest of the night.
Curry fouled by Huerter from behind the line, and he hits two of three FTs before the Kings take a timeout with three minutes to go in the half.
Looney gets another offensive rebound and this time puts it up quickly and gets the bucket to go.
Sabonis backs down Wiggins, and hits the turn around hook shot in the paint.
Curry with the floater off the glass from outside the lane after Looney extends the play with an offensive rebound.
Steph fouls Barnes who goes to the line and hits one of two.
Five minutes to go in the half.
Huerter picks off the pass from Poole and walks in for an easy slam off the steal.
Timeout Warriors with 7:15 to go in the second quarter.
Kuminga just tried to put Len on a poster, and was fouled. He didn't make either FT show the lead stays at 9.
Wiggins drills the three and the lead is back to 9 as Wiggins becomes the first player in double digits on the night!
Fox answers back after the Curry three with a triple try of his own, he's got two from DT tonight.
Curry on the catch and shoot three from the top of the key, and he's got two from long range!
Fox on the step back three ball from the top of the key and he hit it over Wiggins!
Wiggins pulls up from the FT line and he sees it drop. He's got 8 on the night already.
Len at the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on Green.
Mitchell skips around Curry and he lays it up and in.
At the end of the first quarter the Warriors lead by 9 after a first 12 minutes in which they didn't turn the ball over, and grabbed six offensive rebounds.
Wiggins, Moody and Thomspon have 6 for GS, while Fox, Huerter and Sabonis all have 4 points to lead the Kings.
DiVencenzo on the cross over on the perimeter, and flipped it up and over the defender with a finger roll to beat the first quarter buzzer!
DiVencenzo read the inbound pass, came from behind Len and stole it. Len fouled DiVencenzo sending him to the line where he hits one of two.
Moody answers back with a three ball, and he's got two from behind the line in the first quarter!
Davis sticks a three ball after the Len offensive board leads to more second chance points.
Mitchell comes out of the timeout and he drills a three ball after the kick out from Monk!
Another offensive rebound leads to a Thompson triple and the Kings need a timeout after seeing the lead stretch to 9!
That's five offensive rebounds for GS already! Timeout SAC with 3:29 to go in the first quarter.
Moody comes off the bench and strings a three ball from the corner!
Monk introduces himself to the game with a lay up after coming off the bench.
Huerter with his second field goal from the same spot on the baseline.
Poole at the line out of the timeout and he hits both after the foul on Murray.
Wiggins looks like he's in the mood out of the gate, and he gets the floater from outside the lane to go.
Timeout Warriros with 6:00 to go in the first quarter.
Fox gets the roll from the FT line and he's got a couple quick buckets.
Poole to the line after the foul on Murray and he hits one of two FTs.
Wiggins was wide open from deep and he drains the three ball after the kickout from Looney!
Sabonis back Looney down in the paint and he hits the jump hook over the big man.
Wiggins at the line after the foul on Huerter and he hits one of two FTs.
Fox gets to the paint and hits the floater for his first bucket of the night.
Steph picks up a loose ball at the top of the key and he drops the triple try!
Huerter hits the baseline jumper from the mid range and he's looking to get off to a similar start that he had in Game 2.
Sabonis puts the Kings on the boards with a jump hook in the lane.
Thompson drops a three after another steal for the Warriors!
Curry comes up with the steal on one end and released Poole for the lay up on the break after two scoreless minutes to start the game.
Fox gets his own offensive rebound, and gets fouled by Looney, but he missed both FTs!
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM CHASE CENTER!!! THE WARRIORS JUST LOOKING TO STAY IN THE SERIES, WHILE THE KINGS HOPE TO CLOSE TO WITHIN A GAME OF THE NEXT ROUND!
The only unanimous winner of the Coach of the Year award, Mike Brown, is going with his big guns to start Game 3. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s the motto for the Kings who won the first two games with this five, and will look to make it a third straight.
With no Draymond Green, Steve Kerr is going small to start Game 3. He's got Wiggins in the starting five for a second straight game and Jordan Poole joins Klay and Steph on the perimeter and Looney will be patrolling down low.
Sacramento ready for Game 3
Just an hour and a half north of Chase Center the Kings fans are piling in to the Golden 1 Center for tonight’s huge matchup from the Bay. The Sacramento fans were wild in the first two playoff games played in the city in 17 years, and now that they have got a taste of it, they can’t get enough.
Home cooking, road nightmares
The Golden State Warriors have to be more than happy to be home after a tough couple games with the Kings in Sacramento. Steve Kerr’s team have been terrible on the road this season, wining just 11 games this season, which is worst of any playoff and fourth worst in the entire league. Tonight they come home knowing they have to win the next two games and hope for a win in Sacramento later in the series. But first things first.. Golden State has to take care of business tonight.
Never a doubt
omantas Sabonis may have taken the blow that sent Draymond Green to the locker room, but he paid the price. He went to the hospital to have X-Rays taken after the Game 2 win, which showed no broken ribs or damage to his lungs and it seems like Sabonis will be able to play although his midsection might be a little sore still. The good news is he won’t have to worry about Green banging with him down low, at least for this game.
Green suspended tonight
The task is only going to get tougher tonight for the Warriors after the league handed out a one game suspension to Draymond Green for stepping on Domantas Sabonis in the fourth quarter of the Warriors Game 2 loss. He was T’d up originally, and after review and a me vs. the world moment during the review where Green was standing on the Warriors bench antagonizing the entire Golden 1 Center, he was ejected and consequently suspended for the game tonight.
Curry and GS back at Chase Center
Neither Steph Curry, nor the Golden State Warriors have looked like their usual dominant selves through the first two games of the first round of the playoffs. Steph might be averaging 29 points a game in this series, but he hasn’t been able to dominate games like we have seen in playoff games past. That could all change tonight as Curry and the Warriors return to the Bay where they have been a different team at home.
Sacramento's Kings look to conquer Crypto.com
De’Aaron Fox has been sensational in his first two playoffs games. He is playing like a seasoned vet, and like always is saving the best for last. He is the top fourth quarter scorer in the game, and has come through in the clutch for his team in the first two games that went down to the wire. He’s averaging 31, 3, and 7 in this first two postseason games. What does he have in store for tonight in the Bay?
Game 2 recap:
Sacramento came out slow in the opening quarter of Game 2, missing 12 of their first 13 three pointers and turning the ball over nine times before the quarter change. They scored just 17 points in the first, but they also forced the Warriors into 9 early turnovers which allowed them to take the lead in the second quarter when Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox. The game was tight in the final two quarters until Draymond Green was ejected from the game after stomping on Domantas Sabonis in the fourth quarter. After that, the Kings took control and ran away with the Game 2 win after forcing the Warriors to 22 TOs and grabbing 12 offensive rebounds that turned into 20 second chance points.
We are live from Golden State
Hello everyone and welcome to the Bay where the Warriors return home needing a win after two narrow losses at the hands of the Kings. The defending champs return home entering desperation mode, down 0-2 for the first time in the Steve Kerr era, while the Kings are looking to take one step closer to advancing past the opening round for the first time since 2004. Tonight’s game should determine this series. If the Kings win, their chances of downing the defending champs increase greatly, if the Warriors win this series is back in the balance.
Kings vs. Warriors live
We are back in the Bay for Game 3 of the opening round of the Western Conference Finals and the sixth seeded Golden State Warriors are in search of their first win in the series after dropping the first two in Sacramento against a Kings team that is back in the playoffs after nearly two decades. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, scores and highlights of tonight’s can’t miss game from the Chase Center.