The Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings have already met four times this season, and they split those contests. Consider this Wednesday’s game as the tiebreaker, but it’s way more than that. The winner of this game will continue to live in the postseason, while the loser will be packing their bags for Cancun. Will the Warriors move on to the next phase of the Play-in Tournament? Or, will the Kings send Stephen Curry and the Dubs home?
Catch this game live on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 10:00 AM, Manila time
Away: Golden State Warriors (46-36, 25-16 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- Stephen Curry
- Klay Thompson
- Andrew Wiggins
- Draymond Green
- Trayce Jackson-Davis
If the Warriors are to move on to the next phase of the Play-in Tournament, they will have to succeed this Wednesday in enemy territory. The encouraging news for Dubs supporters is that the Warriors are no strangers to postseason success on the road versus the Kings. Just last season, the Warriors sent Sacramento packing in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs by winning two of the final three games of the series on the road, including Game 7 in which Stephen Curry went off for 50 points to lead Golden State to a win. The Warriors have won in six of their last 10 visits to Sacramento, going 7-3 against the spread in that span that started in 2021.
Speaking of Curry, he appears to be in deadly form going into the Play-in tourney meeting with the Kings. In his last three games, Curry averaged 26.0 points on 50.0 FG% and 51.4 3FG%. The Warriors also have the decided advantage in postseason experience in this matchup, which should be useful for them while playing in front of a hostile crowd.
Home: Sacramento Kings (46-36, 24-17 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- De’Aaron Fox
- Keon Ellis
- Harrison Barnes
- Keegan Murray
- Domantas Sabonis
The Kings have a royal opportunity to score a major payback for their loss to Golden State a year ago. Earlier this campaign, it looked as though the Warriors would dominate the Kings again in the regular season, with Golden State winning the first two matchups versus Sacramento. However, the Kings have gone 2-0 straight up against the Warriors since. De’Aaron Fox figures to be the biggest thorn in the side of the Warriors among Kings players. Fox played in three games opposite Golden State this season and averaged 32.3 points on 50.0 FG% and 41.7 3FG% in those contests.
An X factor who shouldn’t be slept upon is former Warriors star Harrison Barnes, who, in the last four games against Golden State, has normed 18.8 points on 60 FG% and 53.8 3FG%. As for their recent form, the Kings don’t seem to be entering the Play-in Tournament oozing with momentum, as they have lost three of their last four outings, with the only win in that stretch coming at the expense of the lowly Portland Trail Blazers (121-82) last Sunday at home.
Picks
Spread: Sacramento Kings (+3.5)
Over/Under: Under (224.0)
