Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook (18) makes a three point shot against the Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody (4) in the first half at Golden One Center in Sacramento (AP News photo)

Kings crack the code late and close out the Warriors 121 to 116

By Mauricio Segura

There is a particular kind of poise that shows up only when a seven point cushion shrinks into a one possession fight. The Sacramento Kings lived on that edge all night and survived the Golden State Warriors’ last push, 121-116, by answering every swing with something cleaner, calmer, and more deliberate in the final minutes.

Golden State opened with verve. Moses Moody streaked in for the first bucket, then the Warriors spread the floor and sprinted to a 32-20 advantage late in the first after Buddy Hield knifed backdoor for a layup. Sacramento prevented a full on avalanche by leaning on veteran traits.

DeMar DeRozan’s soft mid range touch and Russell Westbrook’s straight line drives steadied the group while the Kings trimmed their early turnovers. Malik Monk’s step back three, Raynaud’s trips to the line, and a handful of timely stops kept the game within reach. By halftime, Sacramento had taken the Warriors’ best burst and trailed only 62-57, which felt like a win given the way the quarter had tilted.

The third quarter became the hinge. DeRozan’s free throws to begin the half cut it to 62-59, Clifford’s wing three turned it into a one possession game, and Westbrook’s pair at 9:22 brought the scoreboard to 66 all. Sacramento even nudged in front when Clifford split at the line for 67-66, but Moody fired back with a 27 footer for 69-67.

The tug of war carried on until Monk and the Kings finally carved out daylight. Monk attacked for 79-76 with 4:55 left, then Sacramento layered in defense at the rim, including two important swats from Post that changed the temperature of the period. When the horn sounded, the Kings had authored a 92-85 lead and the building felt different.

Predictably, Golden State charged. Moody buried another deep ball at 9:39 of the fourth, and his and one at 7:34 trimmed it to 100-98. DeRozan answered from 12 feet, Podziemski replied from mid range, and Richard splashed a transition three at 6:45 to give the Warriors a 103-102 edge.

Sacramento held its nerve. Westbrook slashed for a go ahead layup to make it 104-103 Kings, and after a brief exchange that included a technical free throw for Moody to tie it, Dennis Schröder seized control of the closing script.

Schröder rose into a rhythm three from the left slot at 5:34 for 107-104. Westbrook crashed and tipped in a miss at 5:09 for 109-104. Schröder then stepped into another long ball at 4:31, 112-104, and a third at 3:27 for 115-104.

That trio of makes put real stress on the Warriors’ defense and bought Sacramento the cushion that would matter at the end. Golden State still had life, with Richard’s late three at 2:43 cutting it to 115-109 and Podziemski’s deep make at 0:57 trimming it further to 117-114, but the Kings closed like a team that has learned from painful finishes.

With 17 seconds left, Moody’s foul put Schröder on the line, and he calmly dropped both for 119-114. DeRozan added four perfect free throws inside the last seven seconds to place the final stitch.

The Warriors’ young core was excellent. Richard poured in 30, including the last second layup, and kept finding seams for timely threes and cuts. Moody stacked 28 with a full menu of attacks, pull ups, and catch and shoot threes, plus a technical free throw that briefly leveled the fourth.

Jonathan Kuminga showed force at the rim and touch from deep, and Brandin Podziemski’s feel as a connector popped in real time with nine assists and the late 29 foot strike that made it a one shot game.

Sacramento countered with collective maturity. DeRozan’s 25 came with well chosen shots and late game composure. Westbrook shifted tempo on command, piled up rebounds in traffic, and reached double digit assists, including the find that freed Schröder for one of his fourth quarter threes.

Monk’s burst in the third gave the Kings the separation they would need later. Post’s rim protection in the middle quarters tilted possessions in subtle ways, and Clifford’s steals and cuts kept Golden State honest. Most of all, Schröder’s shot diet in the final six minutes, pull up threes taken in rhythm and free throws made without a hint of doubt, translated poise into points.

Strip away the noise and the film says something simple. The Kings bent without breaking in the first, won the opening six minutes out of halftime, and executed with clarity when the clock turned heavy. Against a rival that fired real shots, Sacramento’s veterans measured the moment and made just enough of them.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

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