By Morris Phillips

SACRAMENTO — The Kings are still in the Western Conference playoff race, but nothing states that fact better than a win.The Kings were fortunate enough to survive the pesky New York Knicks on Monday at Golden 1 Center.

Sacramento never trailed after the first quarter, but they never felt comfortable, even the last minutes of the fourth when the Knicks were still in range, and capable of stealing the middle stop of their three-game road trip.

“We didn’t make the shots that we usually make but we were able to get them to turn the ball over,” De’Aaron Fox said. “They usually don’t do that.”

Fox was one of five double-digit scorers for the Kings, who didn’t play a great deal of defense, but kept the pace, and shared the basketball against the team with the NBA’s worst record. 

While the Knicks have been atrocious in losing 22 of 25, the Kings have been downright frustrated, losing 5 of 6, with all the losses by seven points or less. Moreover, their playoff chances have dwindled as a result, but their disdain for falling below .500 at this late date in the season by losing to a beleaguered opponent at home may have been their biggest motivational factor on Monday.

Now their hope is that same motivation carries them in their game against the free-falling Celtics on Wednesday, then again in the rematch with the Knicks in Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

Regardless the Kings face and uphill battle trying to catch the Clippers and Spurs for the coveted, eighth spot. Both teams won Monday, keeping their edge over Sacramento at three games.