Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk, left, looks to shoot over Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green during the first half of Game 6 at Chase Center in San Francisco on Fri Apr 28, 2023 (AP News photo)

Kings Force a Game Seven Beating Warriors 118-99

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the Sacramento Kings (49-34) played their most important game of the season defeating the NBA champion Golden State Warriors (44-39) 118-99 to even the series 3-3 at Chase Center in San Francisco. Trailing 3-2 in the series the Kings were faced with a win or go home scenario.

Sacramento had all hands on deck especially from Kevin Huerter who scored 12 points, who frankly had not been good at all in this series. Harrison Barnes had not been the same since the critical miss from downtown in game four. The Kings protected the ball and stopped the crazy turnovers that are not at all the norm for Sacramento; their average around 12-13 per game.

Game 6 recap: The first quarter was a close one with the Warriors leading 25-23. The game was a physical one from the tipoff. The Kings had nine offensive rebounds to the Warriors one and yet they still trailed.

At the half the Kings had taken the lead 58-51 but were still struggling with ball protection. Sabonis was in foul trouble but despite their woes the Kings were getting some great work from Keegan Murray, De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk.

Sacramento began to extend their lead in the third quarter and going into the fourth quarter the Kings led 90-80. Sacramento was 12 minutes away from forcing a game seven. Monk had elevated his game to new heights finishing the third quarter with 20 points, the team high so far. The Kings Domantas Sabonis had five fouls and was forced to sit and Sacramento would have to step up defensively.

Domantas Sabonis entered the fourth quarter with the five fouls and 8:15 left in the game. It was crunch time for the Kings. The Warriors had begun to pick up offensively and Sacramento had to keep pace. The Kings were forcing Warriors turnovers and had to keep the defensive pressure on.

Through three quarters Sacramento had played a beautiful defensive game. With 3:45 left in the game, the Kings had a nineteen point lead 116-97. This was the largest Sacramento lead in the series.

After a deflating loss in game five for Sacramento the Kings came back with a vengeance to win game six. They put a real beat down on the Warriors in the fourth quarter. Monk had a terrific game finishing with 28 points the team high. Fox had 26 points despite the fractured finger he was dealing with. The Kings out rebounded the Warriors and hit more shots from downtown; they simply outplayed the Warriors in the second half offensively and defensively.

The Warriors Stephen Curry led the Golden State with 29 points. Klay Thompson finished with 22 points.

Game seven will be played at Golden One Center Sunday, the time TBD at the time of this posting.