The Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors are very familiar with one another.
Since the start of last season, the Kings and Warriors have faced each other 15 times–with Golden State taking nine of those head-to-head meetings.
On Tuesday night, the two Northern California foes will meet in a single-elimination NBA Play-In game that will send one of the teams to the next round of the tournament and the other home for the offseason.
For Sacramento, who fell to the Warriors in Game 7 of the first-round series nearly one year ago, Tuesday’s action at Golden 1 Center gives them a chance at somewhat of a do-over:
A single-elimination postseason game on their home floor against a Golden State team that has cast a shadow over the NBA over the past decade.
While the Kings will be motivated to get revenge on last year’s Game 7 heartbreaker, they will have to overcome a Warriors team that has the most collective postseason experience of any team in the league.
Draymond Green & Steve Kerr on the Kings vs. Warriors Play-In
Unlike last year’s seven-game playoff series, Sacramento and Golden State will have just one day of practice to prepare for Tuesday’s matchup.
While the prep time for the postseason is much more abbreviated this time around, the familiarity between these two teams has players like Draymond Green feeling ready for things to tip-off.
“They’ve definitely changed a little bit. We know this team pretty well, though, for the most part,” Green said on Sunday when asked of his thoughts towards facing Sacramento.
“They’re going to run a lot of things through [Domantas] Sabonis. Obviously, everything starts with the head of the snake, De’Aaron [Fox]. And everyone else gets theirs off those guys.
“They’re very much so a pattern team. They got their things that they want to get to. Going into the game, understanding that, the things that we’ll be trying to take away and not let them get to those patterns. But we know them well. They know us well. So it won’t be a surprise.”
As has been the case throughout the past two seasons, Golden 1 Center will provide the Kings with a home-court advantage on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, Sacramento has fell short in several big games on their home floor, such as Games 5 and 7 against the Warriors last year, as well as recent losses to Dallas (twice) and a costly loss to Phoenix last Friday.
Still, over 18,000 fans will be on hand to watch the latest chapter in this budding rivalry.
It will be a great atmosphere,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said of facing the Kings at Golden 1 Center.
“We were there last year, obviously. They’ll have their crowd behind them. It’s nice to not have to get on a plane, so we’ll get take the the bus up there [Monday], have a day to prepare, and be ready to go.”
When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
The stage is set for a Kings vs. Warriors rematch.
Sacramento will get a chance at redemption on Tuesday night when it faces Golden State in another win-or-go-home showdown. The ninth-seed Kings will look to send the tenth-seed Warriors home when the two teams meet at Golden 1 Center.
Not even one year ago, Stephen Curry’s 50-point performance eliminated Sacramento in Game 7 of the NBA Playoffs’ opening round, which also took place on the Kings’ home floor.
Sacramento and Golden State split the regular season series 2-2 this season, with both teams winning one game at home and on the road.
Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Warriors coverage, beginning at 5:30 PM PST on Game Night before a 7:00 PM PST tip-off from Golden 1 Center.
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