Postgame Recap

Shahbaz Khan

Shooting just 27 percent in the first quarter, the Kings quickly fell behind by a double-digit margin, trailing 34-18 at the end of one.

Sactown hit on just 6-of-22 field goals in the opening 12 minutes while Houston converted on 13-of-26, led by James Harden’s 14 points. While the team’s offense improved in the ensuing frame, the purple and black were unable to limit the Rockets’ scoring ability, trailing by 20 points at the halftime break.

Duje Dukan scored his first career NBA basket in the quarter, hitting on a three-point basket.

Sacramento was unable to rebound from their first half deficit as Houston extended its lead to as many as 38 in the second half.

Ben McLemore led the team in scoring with 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including 4-of-8 from long range. With the victory, Houston secured the eighth and final spot in the 2016 NBA Playoffs.

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Kings Downed in Season Finale

Missing backcourt teammates Rajon Rondo and Darren Collison, Seth Curry stepped up admirably – tying a career-high with five assists in the opening frame en route to a 26-22 lead.

Sacramento held Phoenix to just 40 percent shooting in the first quarter, including 41 percent overall in the first half as the team led 56-49 headed to the break. Through two quarters, Curry scored eight points in addition to nine helpers.

As impressive as No. 30’s first half was, his third quarter surpassed his previous play with 10 points and four assists in the frame alone. Seth showcased highlight play after highlight play in the quarter, but none were more notable than the below alley-oop to Willie Cauley-Stein.

Heading into the fourth, Sactown carried a 15-point advantage, but the Suns quickly cut their deficit to as little as two in the final minutes. At 94-92, the purple and black responded with a 7-2 run to close the door on a Phoenix comeback.

The Kings will have a chance to play spoiler in their final game of the season, facing the playoff-hopeful Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. Fans wishing to view the game can tune in via CSN California or Sports 1140 KHTK.

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Curry Shines in Shorthanded Victory

20 million fans, 1,157 games and 28 seasons later, Sacramento Kings basketball inside Sleep Train Arena wound down to one 48-minute game. Saturday’s finale encompassed the loudest, the proudest and the most memorable moments inside the longstanding building.

Kings Legends from nearly each iteration of the team were in attendance as Sactown faced the Oklahoma City Thunder, welcoming the 2015-16 squad to the court in addition to partaking in several in-arena contests and giveaways.

The team took the court to an electrifying crowd, and Darren Collison opened the game with an impressive 3-of-4 performance to lead the squad alongside DeMarcus Cousins, tallying seven points each. Sacramento trailed 30-22 after one, but Seth Curry took control of the ensuing frame by scoring a dozen points on 4-of-6 three-pointers to spark the crowd after each long range attempt. Curry’s second quarter domination netted the purple and black the lead heading into halftime at a 56-52 margin.

Coming out of the break, Oklahoma City sparked a third quarter run of their own to take a one-point lead heading into the final 12 minutes in Sleep Train Arena history.

The final quarter of basketball inside the arena was one to remember, as the teams traded leads five times throughout the course of the frame, with Oklahoma City taking a 99-98 advantage with 4:15 remaining. In the final four minutes, Collison and Rudy Gay took control, scoring the team’s final 16 points.

No. 8 sealed the deal with two deciding free throws with one second remaining to give the team its 32nd win of the season, and most importantly, a victory to close 50,000-plus minutes of basketball inside the arena.

Fans and players reacted to the emotional and thrilling night postgame.

“It was fun. The crowd was amazing the whole night; they were on their feet pretty much the whole entire game. I’m just happy that we got this win for this last home game for them.” – Darren Collison

"I love this city, I love these fans and I can't wait until next year." - DeMarcus Cousins

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Kings Cap 28 Years in Sleep Train Arena with Victory

Led by Darren Collison’s eight first quarter points, the Kings kept pace with the young Timberwolves early on, trailing 31-27 after one. At the halftime break, the team had tallied 12 turnovers while shooting just 41 percent from the field, digging themselves into a seven-point deficit.

Collison and Quincy Acy led the team with 13 and 11 points, respectively, while Minnesota’s young duo of Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine combined for 29 points.

Holding the Timberwolves to 38 percent shooting in the third frame, Sactown traded baskets with the opposition, but their deficit remained at seven after three quarters. The squad was unable to pull any closer than six in the remaining 12 minutes, falling by 8.

The Kings will play their final game after 28 seasons at Sleep Train Arena on Saturday evening versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. Fans looking for more information regarding the final game can click here, while those wishing to view the game can tune in via CSN California or Sports 1140 KHTK.

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Shorthanded Kings Fall to Wolves

Sacramento opened the game impressively, led by a 7-of-8 16-point performance from DeMarcus Cousins in the opening frame. Meanwhile, Rajon Rondo tallied an impressive 12-point, six-assist and five-rebound performance in the first half as the Kings led by a 57-51 margin. The starting backcourt, led by Seth Curry and Rondo, held Blazers star Damian Lillard to 2-of-9 from the field.

Outscored by 10 in the third quarter, Sacramento found themselves with a four-point deficit heading to the final quarter. During the frame though, Sactown recorded one of its most exciting plays of the season, led by Cousins, Curry and Willie Cauley-Stein.

The purple and black kept the game within one possession until the final five minutes, when Portland went on an 8-0 run to push the game out of reach.

The Kings will continue their homestand on Thursday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Fans wishing to view the game can tune in via CSN California or Sports 1140 KHTK.

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Kings Outlasted By Blazers

Missing two starters in Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento had a strong showing in the opening frame, led by six points each from Ben McLemore and Rudy Gay. The team trailed by just four after the first quarter, but Seth Curry took over the ensuing frame, hitting on 7-of-8 shots to tally 17 of the team’s 32 second quarter points.

Denver jumped out to a double-digit lead early in the third quarter, but Sactown rebounded to outscore the Nuggets by three in the quarter.

Allowing the opposition to score 20-plus points in each of the first three quarters, the purple and black locked down Denver in the final 12 minutes, holding the Nuggets to just 26 percent from the field for a total of 18 points. Sacramento had a 13-point advantage in the fourth quarter, leading to the victory in the team's final back-to-back of the season.

The Kings will return to Sacramento face the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night. Fans wishing to view the game can tune in via CSN California or Sports 1140 KHTK.

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Kings Complete Comeback in Denver

A 77 percent shooting first quarter from Miami netted the visitors a 15-point advantage after the opening 12 minutes. The Heat connected on 5-of-7 three-pointers in the opening frame, and 8-of-12 overall in the first half to lead by 18 at the halftime break. Sacramento shot just 41 percent compared to the opposition’s blistering 64 percent performance.

Trading baskets with Miami during the third frame, Sactown headed to the fourth down by 16.

An early 12-3 run in the opening minutes of the final quarter pulled the Kings within single digits for the first time since the first quarter thanks to a Seth Curry three-pointer.

The purple and black continued the run by a tally of 18-8, pulling the squad to within four with six minutes remaining. Sacramento continued to push, cutting the deficit to one with just over two minutes to play, but Miami responded by scoring nine points to seal the victory.

Sactown held the Heat to 28 percent shooting in the final frame, with eight of the 20 points coming at the free throw line.

The Kings will head to Denver on Saturday night to face the Denver Nuggets. Fans wishing to view the game can tune in via CSN California or Sports 1140 KHTK.

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Heat Escape Kings Comeback

At a festive Sleep Train Arena for Social Media Night, offense was not a problem for the two Capital teams.

Both squads traded baskets throughout the opening frame, but Washington narrowly led 34-32 despite DeMarcus Cousins’ 11-point first quarter.

The Kings shot a blistering 56 percent from the field, including 50 percent from beyond the arc en route to a 60-55 advantage at halftime. Cousins increased his point total to 21, while Rudy Gay added 11 points at the break.

With No. 8 and No. 15 making their mark in the first half, Rajon Rondo took control to open the second half, scoring 10 points and tallying four assists in the third quarter alone.

The opposition kept things close until the final 12 minutes, where the purple and black dominated, holding Washington to 43 percent shooting and a 16-point lead. Following a big game in Washington, Wizards star point guard John Wall was held to just 4-of-16 shooting and 1-of-5 in the fourth.

The Kings will continue their brief two-game homestand on Friday night against the Miami Heat. Fans wishing to view the game can tune in via CSN California or Sports 1140 KHTK.