Sacramento Kings leave Golden State Warriors in trouble after taking 2-0 lead in NBA play-offs
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The Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry is fouled by the Sacramento Kings' Domantas Sabonis during Game 2 of their NBA play-offs.
PHOTO: AFP
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SACRAMENTO – The Sacramento Kings are not just turning up at the National Basketball Association (NBA) play-offs – they are more than ready to put up a big fight.
On Monday night, they defeated the Golden State Warriors 114-106 at home to take a 2-0 lead over the NBA champions after a bruising Game 2 in their best-of-seven Western Conference play-off series.
After winning 126-123 in Game 1 on Saturday,
De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis led the Sacramento scoring with 24 points apiece in a stormy encounter that saw Warriors stalwart Draymond Green ejected after stamping on the chest of Sabonis in the fourth quarter.
“We came out here tonight and everyone fought, we were locked in,” Sabonis told TNT television.
“It’s play-off basketball. We’re here to fight. Every time we step on the floor we’re going to give everything for our teammates and our franchise.”
Sabonis was reluctant to be drawn on the explosive fourth-quarter tangle with Green that led to the Warriors veteran being tossed.
Green was ejected after appearing to aim a stamp on Sabonis’ chest as the Kings player held on to his ankle as he lay on the court.
“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, saying: “I’ve got to land my foot somewhere.
“I’m not the most flexible person, so it’s not stretching that far. I can only step so far when I’m pulling my leg away. It is what it is.”
As the officials went to the replay monitor to have a look at the incident, the Kings used the time wisely to regroup and Fox said that moment was key as they urged one another not to lose focus down the stretch.
“I think that brought us together,” he said. “We huddled up and were like, ‘We have to win this game’. Everybody thought he’d be ejected. When that happens, usually that team comes together and goes on a run. But we were able to negate that.”
Stephen Curry led the Warriors scoring with 28 points while Andrew Wiggins finished with 22 and Klay Thompson 21.
However, Golden State were left ruing a litany of 20 turnovers that gave up cheap points to Sacramento, who led from early in the second quarter.
The Warriors clawed their way back from a 14-point third-quarter deficit to tie it at 93-93 midway through the fourth.
But Sacramento responded to pull clear down the stretch and close out a gutsy win.
““They played better than we did down the stretch,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
“They played more physical than us tonight. We didn’t play well enough to win a play-off game on the road.
“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.”
Golden State are in a precarious position, but they will hope to get back on track when they return to San Francisco for Game 3 on Thursday night.
“Got to embrace it,” Curry said.
“You do this for as long as we have. We have to stay together and locked in.” AFP
