The Sacramento Kings are expecting big things from first round pick Darius Acuff Jr as he was closely watched during NBA Summer League action (Kings Reddit page photo)
Sacramento Kings podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:
#1 Can first-round pick Darius Acuff Jr. bounce back with a strong all-around performance and show why the Kings invested a high draft pick in him?
#2 Will Alex Karaban build on his recent breakout game and continue to establish himself as one of Sacramento’s most reliable Summer League scorers?
#3 Which undrafted or fringe roster player—such as Emanuel Sharp, Anthony Dell’Orso, or Marquel Sutton—will make the strongest case for a training camp invitation or a two-way contract?
#4 Can the Kings improve their offensive execution after struggling in their recent loss to the Celtics, including a historically low-scoring first quarter?
#5 As the NBA Summer League enters its final stretch, which young Kings players appear closest to earning meaningful opportunities with Sacramento or its G League affiliate during the 2026–27 season?
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.
Mikel Brown Jr. #0 of the Brooklyn Nets is guarded by Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings on July 14, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Mandatory photo credit: Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
LAS VEGAS — On Tuesday, it was Darius Acuff Jr. and the Sacramento Kings who took on Mikel Brown Jr. and the Brooklyn Nets at Thomas & Mack Center at 3 p.m. PDT.
The Kings got down big early and were unable to make it a game as they were defeated by the Nets, 115-83.
However, the story with the Kings isn’t Summer League win totals. The Kings care more about the development of their seventh overall pick and how the other young guys on the roster, who they view as the beginning of a new young core, develop and build chemistry with one another.
In the first Vegas Summer League game for Darius Acuff Jr., he wasn’t at his sharpest. Acuff Jr. went 6-of-20 with 19 points and seven assists, all while playing well enough to have double-digit assist numbers. However, Acuff Jr. has struggled with efficiency and shot-making, which has plagued him much like it did in the California Classic games he played, where he shot just over 33% in his two games. For a guy who led the SEC in points and assists last season, the early shot-making woes are certainly of notice to those of us around the team, and to Acuff himself.
“I got to be better on both ends of the floor, especially as a point guard,” Acuff Jr. told the media on Thursday. “Just trying to be more efficient. I don’t know what’s going on [with my shooting], but I’m trying to get my assists up for sure, getting those guys involved. I know they’re great players, but as long as we keep getting the win, it’s good for us.”
In Sunday’s matchup, Darius again struggled with his efficiency during his second Vegas Summer League game. He finished with 19 points on 6-of-20 shooting from the field, another rough performance as far as offensive efficiency goes, while turning the ball over four times.
So, coming into Tuesday’s matchup against the Nets, there were expectations surrounding Acuff Jr. putting on an improved offensive showing. Darius had the best game of his Summer League as he dropped 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting during his just over 26 minutes on the court.
“I think he played at a little bit more pace,” Kings coach Chris Darnell said on Tuesday. “I think that he [Acuff] and Alex found some continuity out of one of our actions where they were able to create some advantages. He was able to get downhill and then with some of the go screens we were setting, he was able to free himself up for some shots as well. So that was great to see.”
It’s obviously way too early to make any determinations on any of the 2026 draft class, but Kings fans should be very excited about the early performance from Emanuel Sharp. Sharp took over the game for the Kings on Tuesday as he showed why the Kings took him 45th overall in this year’s draft. After impressing in the California Classic and in early Summer League action, Sharp had a terrific game against the Nets on Tuesday as he scored 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting while also adding four steals.
“Yeah, he’s a competitor,” coach Darnell told me on Tuesday after the game. “He always plays hard no matter what the score is and I love that about him.”
Sharp has improved in each game he has played so far in Summer League. I asked him about his offensive performance and how he feels at this point.
“I think I’m just getting more comfortable the more we play,” Sharp said. “The team’s still trying to get on the same page, but I’m trying to do what I can to help them, whether that’s being vocal, trying to get them energy, trying to be that spark off the bench. Just trying to do whatever I can to help.”
It sure seems that Emanuel Sharp is the steal of the draft for the Kings and maybe in the whole NBA. Yet, Sharp is just trying to play his game and not let his newfound position after being drafted derail him.
“I mean, it is different, but it’s more or less the same thing,” Sharp said about the NBA game. “We have to have the same principles. We all got to play hard. We have to play together and we have to enjoy it and listen to the game plan the coach has put out for us because this is basketball at the end of the day. I think college was just more organized with the roster, but nonetheless, it’s all the same. We all got to go out there and compete together.”
The Kings started their Summer League schedule at the California Classic on the right foot. They went undefeated in three games and won their first Vegas Summer League game. However, they have taken a step back in the last two games of the schedule. They have lacked physicality in the last two games and have seemed disjointed, which hasn’t left a good feeling for the Kings.
“We were just soft,” Kings center Dylan Cardwell said. “We didn’t play to our identity. We were just soft.”
The Kings have a long way to go before their roster really meshes together, and it will just restart when they introduce their regulars into the mix during training camp this fall.
The Kings will wrap up their current Summer League schedule on Wednesday against the Celtics at 5 p.m. PDT.
Darius Acuff Jr. #5 and Head Coach Chris Darnell of the Sacramento Kings talk during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on July 6, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Kings wrapped up their California Classic schedule on Monday night at Golden 1 Center against the Milwaukee Bucks at 7 p.m. PDT. It was a good atmosphere for the Kings in their final California Classic game as they defeated the Bucks 95-89 to go undefeated in the tournament.
Let’s take a look at the Kings’ performances across the July 4 weekend California Classic.
Coming into the Kings’ first basketball action since the end of the 2025-26 season, there was a lot of hype surrounding the Kings and their draft picks, Darius Acuff Jr., Alex Karaban, and Emanuel Sharp. The Kings had what many people around the league dubbed a highly successful draft night, getting high-upside players with all of their selections.
For Acuff, he had mixed results in his Kings debut during the tournament. Acuff finished the weekend playing in two of the three games and tallying 58 minutes of action. He went 16-of-48 from the field and managed 47 points during his first two games of his young Kings career. Acuff impressed in some areas of his game, namely his passing, while also looking a bit sped up during his time on the court. Overall, it was exciting for Kings fans to see what they hope will be their future franchise cornerstone on the court for the first time.
On Monday, Darius Acuff Jr. treated the Golden 1 Center crowd to a dagger three-pointer with 23 seconds left in the game to put the Kings up six. It was a great moment for Kings fans who hope they will see much more of that during the regular season. However, any sort of conclusion about the young guard would be purely an overreaction at this point.
I asked Chris Darnell how Darius compared to the expectations coming into the California Classic.
“Darius and Nique’s ability to impact the point of attack defensively, take teams out of their offense… I want to see Darius run the show. Obviously create for himself, create for others, just feel the game. I think he did a great job of that tonight. It looked like he settled in a little bit more.”
Nique Clifford came into the California Classic as a bit of a surprise participant. Clifford, who is in his second year with the Kings, wasn’t necessarily a player many thought would participate in the annual summer games. Yet, he played in the first and third games and meshed well with the other young Kings on the court. Clifford played 57 minutes over his two games while scoring 17 points on 7-of-20 shooting.
Coach Darnell also spoke on what Nique provided during the California Classic and the way he has improved since last year.
“As far as Nique, somebody that we like playing closeouts aggressively, somebody that can also handle the ball… relieve some pressure for our other ball handlers and somebody that can attack the paint relentlessly. He’s got good size and athleticism. I thought he did a pretty good job of that these last three games.”
Dylan Cardwell was another second-year Kings player who continued his growth during his second California Classic. Cardwell brought energy into the building while totaling 20 rebounds, eight blocks, six steals, and 20 points across his 53 minutes of action in the two games he played.
Cardwell is obviously highly impactful defensively, but it was his offensive improvements that impressed the Kings during the tournament.
“Dylan offensively, created advantages with his screening ability and then put pressure on the paint with his rolling,” Darnell said. “I think he did a great job of that. He had four offensive rebounds, a couple of assists as well. And he’s a super selfless player.”
As for Cardwell, he’s focused on all aspects of his game, including being in great shape for the “elite conditioning” the Kings are emphasizing this year as a team.
“I’m really good at playing… in short spurts. And the thing now is how can I do that from two, three minutes of playing like that to six to eight minutes. And so that’s my focus conditioning-wise. How can I be guarding the ball screens? How can I run the floor? How can I go chase down rebounds and block shots and steals and all these things and do that for a longer duration?”
Emanuel Sharp, known for his shooting at Houston, came into the California Classic and really impressed as a point-of-attack defender, something he told me a week ago was a major emphasis heading into his first season.
“For me, it’s probably my defense,” Sharp said to me during his introductory press conference. “When people see me, they probably think of my shooting, but I like to pride myself on my defense first.”
Sharp played in the first two games of the California Classic and put up 31 points on 8-of-26 shooting in 61 minutes across the two contests.
Alex Karaban sprained his ankle during Kings practice on Thursday of last week and is set to be reevaluated on Friday. As of now, it is anticipated that he will be able to participate in Summer League action in Las Vegas.
The Kings will head to Las Vegas to begin the 2026 NBA Summer League at Thomas & Mack Center on Thursday at 8 p.m. PDT against the Los Angeles Clippers.
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.
Emanuel Sharp #34 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors during a 2026 NBA California Classic game on July 5, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After Nique Clifford, Darius Acuff Jr., and Emanuel Sharp led the Kings to victory in their first Summer League game of 2026, the Kings elected to sit most of those players on the second night of a back-to-back against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday afternoon.
The Kings defeated the Warriors 91-85 in front of a solid Golden 1 Center crowd that filled the lower bowl.
Jonathan Mogbo and Emanuel Sharp were the lone players from Saturday’s starting lineup to start again on Sunday for the Kings. It was Sharp, who was drafted 45th overall by the Kings in this year’s NBA Draft, who truly shined for Sacramento in Sunday’s game.
Sharp led the Kings in scoring with 18 points on 5-of-15 shooting while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out three assists.
Sharp spoke with the media after the game about the mindset he brings into each contest.
“I go into the game and whatever the game plan coach has, I’m just trying to follow that to a T and then just follow my own standards for what I have for myself,” Emanuel Sharp said. “Playing hard, you can’t control whether my shots are going in. Some games it is going in, some games it is not. But I can always control my defense, how hard I’m playing, my energy, my enthusiasm for my teammates, and being a good teammate.”
Isaiah Stevens was another major bright spot for the Kings as the two-way guard put up 18 points in 27 minutes of action.
“I have a lot of confidence that we can speed other teams up with those two [Sharp and Stevens],” Chris Darnell said after the game. “Those are your guys defending at the point of attack. So it takes teams out of their offense and then both of those guys can handle on the other end. You can kind of play one off ball, play one on. You can seek matchups in a different way just depending on who’s guarding those guys. So it’s great to have multiple handlers, but then when they both defend at such a high level, that’s really what you want to see as a coach.”
The Kings will wrap up their California Classic slate on Monday when they take on the Milwaukee Bucks at 7 p.m. PDT inside Golden 1 Center. Kings coach Chris Darnell could not confirm if Darius Acuff Jr., Emanuel Sharp, or Nique Clifford would play in the last game on Monday.
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.
Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings dribbles the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on July 4, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Darius Acuff Jr. made his debut with the Sacramento Kings on Saturday as the Kings played the Brooklyn Nets in the California Classic.
The Kings and Nets tipped off at 2 p.m. PDT inside Golden 1 Center for the first basketball the arena had seen since the Kings wrapped up their regular season earlier this year.
The Kings defeated the Nets 79-76 on Saturday afternoon in front of a mostly full lower bowl inside G1C.
For the Kings, Alex Karaban did not play in their first California Classic game after spraining his ankle during practice on Thursday.
Darius Acuff Jr. got off to a slow start to his Kings career, as he started 1-for-9 in the first quarter while the Nets buried the Kings in a 21-10 hole. Acuff was able to flip the script a bit in the second quarter as he shot 2-for-5 from the field and had a few nice moves to create space and get to the basket.
Emanuel Sharp got off to a slow start as well in the first half, finishing the half shooting 2-for-9 from the field while hitting two 3-pointers for the Kings. Sharp was active on the defensive end while showing off his 3-point shooting.
In the second half, Acuff Jr. got himself going late to propel the Kings back into the game. Acuff Jr. finished the game shooting 9-for-29 and led the Kings with 25 points.
“I think there was obviously a lot of ebbs and flows in that game,” Kings coach Chris Darnell said after the game regarding Acuff Jr. “We do want Darius to be aggressive, but I think the way he was playing at the start of the game, part of it was the way that they were defending him, but I think he had more of an ability at that point to get to the paint, create for others. I think we can help him as teammates doing that.”
Acuff Jr. spoke candidly to the media about his performance and the speed of the game.
“It was a little rough to start. I think I was getting rushed a little bit, something I don’t normally do, but I’m just glad we got the win. Stayed a little poised down the stretch, and I’m going to be better next time for sure.”
Nique Clifford shined for the Kings in what was the beginning of his second season with the club. Clifford finished the game with 14 points on 6-for-13 shooting from the field, including his game-winning 3-pointer on the Kings’ final possession.
“I thought he [Acuff Jr.] was going to ISO and drive to the rim, but I stay ready,” Nique said after the game. “That’s what I work on every single day, staying ready for those types of shots. He trusted me, passed it to me, and I just made a play.”
The Kings will play again on Sunday at 2 p.m. PDT against the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the California Classic.
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.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with Darius Acuff Jr. after he is drafted seventh overall by the Sacramento Kings during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Mandatory photo credit: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings introduced their 2026 draft picks on Monday at Golden 1 Center during a press conference hosted at the main entrance of the arena.
On Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, the Kings made three picks in the NBA Draft. The Kings selected Darius Acuff Jr. with the seventh overall pick in the draft, Alex Karaban with the 29th overall selection, and Emanuel Sharp with their final pick of the draft at No. 45.
The Kings had long been rumored to be in the sweepstakes for Acuff Jr., and the Arkansas alum was widely viewed around the league as one of the better selections of the draft at the seventh position.
“Getting drafted, that’s the ultimate moment,” Acuff Jr. said to the media on Monday. “Just being at a table with your family, seeing them smile, that’s the best part.”
Acuff led the SEC in scoring and assists this past season, averaging 23.5 points per game while adding 6.4 assists. His scoring ability and being the best available player are certainly the main reasons the Kings were so interested in him. He truly has the potential to be one of the best offensive players in the league.
“We prioritized talent, basketball IQ, competitiveness, character, and the potential to make a long-term impact,” Kings GM Scott Perry said Monday.
Acuff Jr. is just as excited as the Kings and their fans to get going heading into this summer.
“It’s a great fan base,” Darius told me on Monday. “They support you no matter what, and they just deserve winning, so I definitely want to bring that here for sure, and I thank them for that support.”
The biggest question mark for Acuff Jr. coming into his pro career is his defense. He wasn’t known for his defensive work at Arkansas, but it will be required of him on the Kings. I asked Darius where he thinks he slots into the Kings’ defensive scheme heading into the 2026 season.
“Definitely on-ball and guard my position for sure,” Acuff said. “You got defensive schemes on teams, so you might have to guard the two, three, whatever. I’m looking forward to anything the coach wants me to do, no matter what the position is or anything. So anything I got to do for the coach — to lock in on defense and get stops as a team — that’s what I’m willing to do.”
Alex Karaban, the Kings’ 29th overall selection in the draft, comes to Sacramento as the winningest player in UConn Huskies history. Karaban made it to three championship games and won two of them in his collegiate career while averaging just over 13 points and five rebounds in his senior year.
I asked Karaban what the most underrated part of his game was, and it will probably not come as a surprise to many people.
“I think it’s the IQ that I play with,” Karaban said. “I think just processing plays and just seeing things develop before they actually happen. I think especially during my time at UConn, we had a bunch of plays, a bunch of sets, and a lot of read and react. So I think definitely the IQ that I could bring to a team.”
With the 45th selection in the draft, the Kings selected Emanuel Sharp from Houston, who averaged just over 37% from deep this past year. Sharp can certainly shoot it, but it’s his defense that will help keep him in the NBA. Sharp told me on Monday that it is the defensive end of the floor where he hangs his hat.
“For me, it’s probably my defense,” Sharp said. “When people see me, they probably think of my shooting, but I like to pride myself on my defense first.”
It’s an exciting new dawn for the Sacramento Kings as they enter the summer to prepare for next season. The Kings’ new additions will participate in the California Classic next week before heading to Las Vegas for NBA Summer League beginning on July 9.
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.
Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford looks to pass around Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
By Barbara Mason
Sunday evening the Sacramento Kings (22-60) finished off their 2025-26 season losing to the Portland Trail Blazers (42-40) 122-110. The Kings had the high score for the game. Precious Achiuwa had a double double with 27 points and 11 rebounds.
Despite the loss, Maxime Raynaud and Nique Clifford had double digits, Clifford with 24 points. Next big date for the Kings will be the NBA draft later this year.
Game recap: After the first 12 minutes of play this game was tied at 33. The Kings were hanging in this game until the second quarter when Portland really turned the game around outscoring the Kings 44-24. At the half the Trail Blazers had a 77-57 lead and it sure looked like Portland was in total control of the game.
One thing that we have learned in the later games of this season is that there is no “quit” on this team, they battle until the very end. These young players play hard and they never give up. By the end of the third quarter the Kings had cut the Trail Blazers lead nearly in half.
Going into the final quarter Portland had a 96-84 lead. Clifford and Achiuwa were shooting lights out. Clifford with 20 and Achiuwa with 22 points. Raynaud also had double digits shooting for 15 points.
If nothing else these guys will bring incredible energy, skill, and scoring ability to next year’s roster. The rally the Kings mounted at the end of the third quarter fell apart as the final quarter wore on.
Just when it looked as if all was lost, the Kings fought back pulling to within 11 points 103-92. With eight minutes left in the game the Kings pulled to within nine points 104-95 but that would be as close as they would get and that was the finish of the 2025-26 season for the Sacramento Kings.
The Kings Precious Achiuwa finished with the game high, a double double, 27 points and 11 rebounds. Nique Clifford had 24 points and Maxime Raynaud with 21 points.
Game notes: A season like no other has finally come to an end for the Sacramento Kings. Everything that could go wrong did and the Kings went into probably every game this season short-handed. If not every game pretty darn close to every game.
Since the start of 2026 a lot of the younger players got a rare opportunity to start games and they reaped the benefits. While Maxime Raynaud has been starting for awhile now, Nique Clifford, Devin Carter and Daeqwon Plowden have gotten a lot of minutes and the improvement they have shown has been impressive.
The Kings now look ahead to the upcoming 2026-27 season but before that the draft lottery at the end of May will be of great interest to the future of the team. Of course no team wants to finish with one of the three worst records of the season but those teams have the best chance at a first round draft pick.
Sacramento will not be in that group but they do have a 22-60 record and after Sunday night’s game and a finish to their season. They took on the Trail Blazers in their final game of the season ending with a loss Sunday. The Trail Blazers are tied for eighth place with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers beat the Golden State Warriors Sunday night 115-110 and the Clippers came away with a big win.
Stay connected for upcoming Kings news and an important one to keep all eyes on will be the upcoming NBA draft. On May 10 the NBA draft lottery will take place. The date for the NBA draft will be announced at a later date most likely sometime in June.
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.
Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter (22) throws down on the Golden State Warriors in the first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Fri Apr 10, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento Kings podcast Tony Harvey:
#1 How did Devin Carter manage to score 29 points and impact the outcome of the game against the Warriors?
#2 What role did Nique Clifford play in the Kings’ starting lineup during the April 10 matchup?
#3 How effective was Precious Achiuwa in the frontcourt for Sacramento against Golden State?
#4 In what ways did Daeqwon Plowden contribute to the Kings’ performance in this game?
#5 How did Maxime Raynaud perform as a starter, and what impact did he have on the Kings’ win over the Warriors?
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.
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.
Can the Sacramento Kings put Stephen Curry (30) and the Golden State Warriors on their backs this Fri Apr 10, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento? To find out listen to the Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson (AP News photo)
Sacramento Kings Jeremiah Salmonson:
#1 How will Maxime Raynaud’s presence impact the Kings’ ability to control rebounds and interior scoring against the Warriors?
#2 Can DeMar DeRozan take over offensively in clutch moments against Golden State’s defense?
#3 What role will Malik Monk play as a scorer and playmaker off the bench or in the starting lineup? (He has been a key contributor in recent seasons.)
#4 How important is Doug McDermott’s three-point shooting in stretching the Warriors’ defense?
#5 Can Killan Hayes provide enough offensive production to compensate for injuries and keep the game competitive?
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.
Sports Radio Service 