SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — De’Aaron Fox had wrapped up the brilliant performance that marked a playoff debut that was years in the making. And he had to fulfill one more task.
Following a chanted countdown from the crowd, Fox pressed a button that turned on the beam of light outside the arena, signaling that Sacramento had won. Thus, 17 years of frustration ended.
“Sacramento pulled it off tonight,” Fox said. “But to do this for the public, knowing how they’ve supported this team through the fat, lean and very lean times, is a testament to what these fans are like.”
Fox had 38 points and the Kings celebrated their return to the postseason after a record absence by beating the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors 126-123 on Saturday.
The first postseason matchup between these two teams from Northern California lived up to expectations and thrilled a crowd that had been waiting for a playoff game in the state capital since 2006.
The inexperienced Kings closed out the game well against the Warriors who have won four titles in the previous eight seasons.
After Stephen Curry hit a corner 3-pointer to give Golden State a 114-112 lead with about four minutes to play, the Kings responded with seven straight points, starting on Fox’s 3-pointer.
The Warriors kept pressing and got within one point on a layup by Curry in the final minute. However, Andrew Wiggins missed another shot from a corner that would have given him the lead, in the dying moments of what was his first game in more than two months.
Malik Monk made two free throws to make it 126-123 with 2.9 seconds remaining. Curry missed a 3-pointer just as the buzzer sounded.
The Kings posted their first playoff win since April 30, 2006, when they beat San Antonio.
