Devin Carter #22 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket past Gary Payton II #0 of the Golden State Warriors in the second half at Golden 1 Center on April 10, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO — The Kings closed the book on their 2025-2026 home schedule on Friday night as they played their final game at Golden 1 Center. The Kings took on the Warriors at 7 p.m. PST in what was largely a meaningless game for both clubs. The Warriors, already locked into the tenth seed in the Western Conference, were largely tuning up for their play-in action next week, while the Kings were getting their final looks from their young guys. The season doesn’t officially end for the Kings until Sunday, but the last home game always has a nice celebratory feel to it, regardless of how little success the team had on the floor this season.

Adding to the celebration on Friday, the Kings honored longtime radio play-by-play broadcaster Gary ‘G-Man’ Gerould by announcing the naming of the Kings’ media dining and work areas after him. The team announced that the media dining and workspace at Golden 1 Center will be named the “Gary ‘G-Man’ Gerould Media Center” at the beginning of the 2026-2027 season.

“For more than 40 years, G-Man has been the defining voice of the Sacramento Kings, bringing every moment to life on the radio with unmatched precision, passion, and storytelling,” said Sacramento Kings Chairman and Owner Vivek Ranadivé in a team release following the announcement.

Gary is one of my personal favorite people I have ever met. His infectious kindness and sharp personality are just some of the attributes that set him apart in the broadcast landscape. It’s been an honor to work around him during the seasons I have covered the Kings, and each interaction I have with him leaves me better than I began. A well-deserved honor for the Sacramento icon.

However, it wasn’t just celebration that was on the docket for Friday night. The Kings played the Warriors hard on Friday and defeated Golden State 124-118.

In the first quarter, the Kings jumped out to an early lead against the Warriors as they outscored them 32-27 in the opening salvo. The Kings, led by 11 points from Malik Monk, took a five-point advantage early as the Warriors had no answers for the guard. Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors in first-quarter scoring with six points, while Draymond Green and Al Horford added five points each.

In the second quarter, the Kings continued to create more separation from the Warriors. The Kings outscored the Warriors 31-24 in the second quarter to take a 12-point, 63-51 lead into the halftime break. The Kings’ offense shined in the first half as they assisted on 14 of their baskets while committing only eight turnovers. Devin Carter and Nique Clifford cooked for the Kings in the second quarter, scoring 10 points each while amassing 12 points apiece in the first half. De’Anthony Melton led the way for the Warriors with 17 points in the half, all of which came in the second quarter.

Coming out of halftime in the third quarter down 12, it was all Warriors early in the quarter as they went on a 12-2 run to pull back within reach of the Kings. Steph Curry and Kristaps Porzingis led the early push for the Warriors with five points each during that run. The rest of the third, the Warriors didn’t let up. Golden State outscored the Kings 38-19 in the quarter to take a seven-point, 89-82 lead into the final quarter of action. Brandin Podziemski led the resurgence for the Warriors with 10 third-quarter points, while Devin Carter carried the offensive load for the Kings with nine.

In the fourth quarter, the game turned into a back-and-forth battle. The Kings battled back and outscored the Warriors 42-29 in the fourth quarter to seal the 124-118 win. The game came down to the final few possessions, but timely free throws from Nique Clifford ultimately sealed the deal. Brandin Podziemski did what he could to keep the Warriors in it with 14 fourth-quarter points, but it was Maxime Raynaud and Daeqwon Plowden each scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter that propelled the Kings to victory. Devin Carter led the Kings in scoring with 29 points, while Maxime Raynaud added 23, Nique Clifford 20, and Daeqwon Plowden 20 points in the game.

It was the Kings’ final home game and final beam in a tumultuous 2025-2026 season for the Kings.

The Kings will go on the road for their final game of the season on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. PST in Portland to take on the Trail Blazers.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.