The Sacramento Kings guard Domantas Sabonis (10) takes a jump shot against the Golden State Warriors in the first half at Chase Center in San Francisco on Thu Jan 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

In a wild finish the Sacramento Kings (25-18) edged the Golden State Warriors (19-23) in their fourth matchup this season 134-133. Harrison Barnes had a career high 39 points hitting 7 threes. This game was a real nail biter with Sacramento leading for most of it.

The Kings came out with incredible energy in the opening quarter leading after the first 12 minutes 40-32. Sacramento had taken an 11 point lead at one time in the first quarter. The Warriors really got on track in the second quarter and as this game played on the three’s were flying. 

The combined total from beyond the arc was 25 in an electric first half of basketball. After two quarters, the Kings had slim 75-72 lead. The Warriors did win the second quarter 40-35.

Barnes was having a monster game scoring 20 points in the first half which included four three’s. De’Aaron Fox also had a great start with 16 points. It would be a challenging second half.

 The Warriors are still playing off the emotion of this last week and they will be a real challenge. The Kings would have to continue to play hard and make as many stops as possible and continue to protect the ball. 

Sacramento only had four turnovers in the first half. The Kings were having great success in the paint and needed to take that into the third quarter. The biggest concern for Sacramento was Domantas Sabonis with three personals in the first half. 

Barnes who is having another terrific game and Keegan Murray both had no personal fouls. The Warriors would not doubt try to get Sabonis out of the game in the second half which would be a real blow for Sacramento. They would be walking a fine line in the second half.

The third quarter started out poorly for the Kings when Fox committed personal foul number three and Sacramento was flirting with disaster with their two best players in deep foul trouble. The Kings really topped it off when Kevin Huerter committed his fourth foul and winning this game might become awfully difficult.  

The Kings continued to hold onto the lead through out most of the third quarter although in the later minutes of the quarter the game was tied several times but Sacramento continued to hang onto the lead. 

With 11 seconds left in the third quarter Klay Thompson tied up the game 101-101. Barnes hit a three with 1.1 left on the game clock giving the Kings a 104-101 lead after three quarters. Barnes had 32 points through three quarters.

 It would all come down to the fourth quarter in a wild game. 35 threes were hit between these two teams after three quarters in some offensive fireworks.

In year 12 of his career, Harrison Barnes was nearing a career best. With under four minutes left in the game the Kings had a 128-121 lead and this was officially a clutch game for both teams. 

Sacramento would need their clutch player from the 2022-23 season to close this game out. Every single starter had not only double digits but they had hit 17 combined long balls. With the clock at 47 seconds the Warriors took a one-point lead 133-132. 

The Kings took back the lead 134-133 with 22 seconds left in this game. This was a wild finish with a Warrior turnover and the final was 134-133 in favor of Sacramento.

The Kings fought hard the entire game. It was a solid offensive game for the Kings, with only ten turnovers. Harrison Barnes, after 12 years in the league, scored a career high with 39 points and 7 threes.

He left the Warriors seven years ago and one would query “has he forgotten”? By the looks of tonight’s game there’s your answer. He was electric tonight. ”When the ball comes to you shoot with confidence,” said Barnes after the game. ”The important thing was to keep an aggressive mentality,” he went on to say. He sure displayed confidence in this one.  

Fox had 29 points and despite five personals Domantas Sabonis came away with 18 points and eight rebounds with 13 assists. This is the second game that the Kings beat Golden State by a single point. Sacramento won back in November 124-123

Post game notes: Thursday night the Kings defeated the Warriors at Chase Center. The Warriors were coming off an emotional win Wednesday night beating the Hawks at Chase 134-112. The Kings also beat the Hawks last Sunday 122-107 so it was a Northern California beat down of Atlanta this week.

Saturday night the Kings will play the Dallas Mavericks on the road. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 PM.