NBA: De’Aaron Fox lifts Kings past Warriors for 2-0 series lead
De’Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings dunks the ball on gsin the first half during Game Two of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Golden 1 Center on April 17, 2023 in Sacramento, California. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP
De’Aaron Fox scored 11 of his team-high-tying 24 points in the fourth quarter and fed Harrison Barnes for a tiebreaking dunk with 5:14 remaining, delivering the host Sacramento Kings a second straight win over the Golden State Warriors, 114-106, Monday night in a Western Conference first-round playoff game.
The contest featured the ejection of Golden State’s Draymond Green for stomping on Domantas Sabonis.
The scene shifts to San Francisco for Games 3 and 4, beginning Thursday night with the defending champions down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.
“We came out here tonight and everyone fought, we were locked in,” Sabonis told TNT television.
“It’s playoff basketball. We’re here to fight. Every time we step on the floor we’re going to give everything for our team-mates and our franchise.”
The Kings took an eight-point lead into the final period but saw Stephen Curry lead Golden State into a 95-all tie with a driving layup with 5:32 to play.
Fox then found Barnes in the Green-less Golden State interior for a hoop that not only gave Sacramento the lead for good, but also triggered a 19-11 finish.
DE'AARON x DOMANTAS 🔥
Fox: 24 PTS, 5 REB, 9 AST, 4 STL
Sabonis: 24 PTS, 9 REB, 4 ASTKings take a 2-0 series lead.#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/Qu7ZcmJByO
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2023
The key hoop occurred two minutes after Green and Sabonis got entangled under the Golden State basket, with Sabonis hitting the floor after a bump from Klay Thompson. Sabonis then grabbed Green’s leg as he attempted to get by, and the Warriors forward proceeded to slam his foot into his rival’s chest, resulting in a flagrant foul 2 and immediate ejection.
Sabonis also was assessed a technical foul on the play, which occurred with the Kings leading 91-87.
“We were both fighting for the rebound, we fell on each other, stuff happens, it’s basketball. We’ve got to move on to the next play,” Sabonis said.
Green pinned the blame on Sabonis. “I’ve got to land my foot somewhere,” Green said. “I can only step so far when I’m pulling my leg away. It is what it is.”
The Warriors made a late push to get within 102-101 with 3:11 left after successive Thompson 3-pointers. However, Sabonis snatched a Fox miss and dropped in a follow shot, and when Fox buried a 3-pointer on the Kings’ next possession, all of a sudden, the hosts had breathing room again at 107-101.
Fox also found time for a game-high nine assists. Sabonis finished with 24 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Kings, the Pacific Division champs who are seeded higher (third) than the defending champs (sixth) in the postseason.
Malik Monk chipped in with 18 points, Kevin Huerter 15, Davion Mitchell 14 and Barnes 13 for the Kings, who used a 12-9 advantage on the offensive boards and 22 Golden State turnovers to get up 10 more shots than the visitors.
Curry overcame a 3-for-13 night from beyond the 3-point arc to put up a game-high 28 points along with a team-high six assists for the Warriors, who last season responded to all six of their postseason losses with wins en route to the title.
“We didn’t play well enough to win a playoff game on the road,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “With that said, it was a tie game with a few minutes left.
“We know we have to play better, and we will play better. These guys are champions. The way our guys fought showed what they’re made of.”
Andrew Wiggins had 22 points, Thompson 21 and Gary Payton II 13 for the Warriors, who lost despite outscoring the Kings 36-27 from beyond the arc. With reports from Agence-France Presse
