Sacramento Kings podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: Can Kings shutdown Warriors Curry as both teams meet for a 2nd time in a week

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?

Join Jeremiah Salmonson Thursday nights for the Sacramento Kings podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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. 

Golden State Warriors podcast David Zizmor: Warriors hold on to be at Kings 110-105; Curry cans 17 points on return

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) takes a jump shot against the Sacramento Kings forward Precious Achiuwa (9) during the first half at Chase Center in San Francisco on Tue Apr 7, 2026 (AP News photo)

Golden State Warriors podcast David Zizmor:

#1 David the anticipated return of Stephen Curry after missing 27 games scored 17 points the Golden State Warriors (37-42) win over the visiting Sacramento Kings (21-59) 110-105 at Chase Center on Tuesday night.

#2 The Warriors were aware of the Kings Maxime Raynaud who can be effective from anywhere on the floor led Sacramento with 17 points.

#3 Next up for the Warriors another meeting with the Kings this time in Sacramento on Fri Apr 10th with a 7:00pm PDT tip. This one will be at Golden 1 do you see Curry’s return almost a sure win for Golden State in Sacramento?

David Zizmor does the Golden State Warriors podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NBA podcast Michael Roberson: Lakers Doncic and Reaves out with injuries to kick off post season; Nuggets Jokic triple double Brunson a force in the post season; plus more news

Los Angeles Lakers Luka Doncic (pictured) is listed out with a grade 2 hamstring injury and Austin Reaves (not pictured) is out with a grade 2 oblique muscle injury. They are expected to miss the post season according to reports. (Getty photo)

NBA podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 How does Los Angeles Lakers Luka Dončić’s and Austin Reaves injuries impact the Western Conference playoff race and potential Finals contenders? (Consider how tightly packed teams like the Lakers, Nuggets, and Rockets are right now.)

#2 Which late-season performance is more impressive: Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokić’s triple-double dominance or Jalen Brunson’s clutch game-winner—and why? (Think about MVP narratives vs. clutch impact.)

#3 Are the Houston Rockets legitimate contenders in the West, or are they benefiting from favorable matchups and timing? (Use their current form and matchup vs. the Suns as context.)

#4 Can the Boston Celtics sustain their late-season surge into a championship run, and what factors make them especially dangerous? (Focus on Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and team chemistry.)

#5 Will Shaquille O’Neal’s new professional dunk league enhance basketball culture or distract from the NBA product?

Join Michael Roberson for NBA podcasts weekly at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sac Kings game wrap: Kings Comeback Effort Falls Short in 110-105 Loss to Warriors

Dylan Cardwell #32 of the Sacramento Kings dribbles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors on April 7, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SAN FRANCISCO — The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Tuesday night against the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center. The Kings were squarely out of the playoff picture when they took on the playoff-hopeful Warriors. The Warriors are guaranteed the 10th spot in the Western Conference as they attempt to make a playoff run with Steph Curry having returned from injury.

On Tuesday, the Kings played with a highly depleted lineup that was missing the likes of DeMar DeRozan, Russell Westbrook, Keegan Murray, and Zach LaVine. The Kings only had nine players available in the game. The Warriors were back in tow with Steph Curry, albeit off the bench in his second game back from injury. In a tough-fought game, the Kings fell to the Warriors 110-105 on Tuesday night.

In the first quarter, the Kings played the Warriors tough as they managed to outscore them 26-25 in the game’s opening 12 minutes. Maxime Raynaud and Daeqwon Plowden led the Kings’ offensive efforts in the first quarter as they scored seven and six points, respectively, to open the game. On the Warriors’ side, Pat Spencer led the scoring with seven points in the opening frame.

In the second quarter, the Warriors dominated and created significant separation from the Kings. De’Anthony Melton led the way for the Warriors with 12 second-quarter points as they outscored the Kings 41-27. Steph Curry trailed slightly behind Melton as he powered the Warriors in the second quarter with 11 points of his own. The Kings, who scored 27 points in the quarter, were led in scoring by Doug McDermott and Nique Clifford, who scored eight and five points, respectively.

The Kings went into halftime trailing the Warriors 66-53 after the first half of play in San Francisco.

In the third quarter, the Kings outplayed the Warriors in all aspects of the game and began a comeback attempt after being down 13 heading into halftime. The Kings outscored the Warriors 28-19 in the third quarter to come within four points and make it an 85-81 game heading into the fourth. Killian Hayes and Maxime Raynaud led the charge for the Kings, scoring eight points each in the quarter. Gary Payton II led the way for the Warriors, adding six points in the third.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings continued to push. However, De’Anthony Melton and Brandin Podziemski each scored seven points in the final frame to keep the Kings at bay. The Warriors outscored the Kings 26-25 in the final quarter to take home the win by the final of 110-105. Precious Achiuwa and Doug McDermott each added eight points in the final frame to keep the Kings in it. The Kings failed to come back and win the game, but it was not without fight and positive trajectory for the young group led by Doug Christie.

“It’s one of the gratifying things [watching players grow] that as you watch your players… we watch film, we talk about certain things and you get in practice, we work on certain things, and to watch them take that to the floor and do it is absolutely huge,” Doug Christie said.

“I think that they’ve faced adversity many, many times,” Doug continued. “And previously I thought they would drop rope and put their heads down, letting the game get away from us instead of continuing to fight. But all the little things that we talk about… super gratifying.”

Dylan Cardwell and Killian Hayes were some of the standouts for the Kings in the loss on Tuesday.

Cardwell finished with eight points, nine boards, and three blocks in the game. He had a large impact on the court in his nearly 26 minutes, which also included a scary incident with Draymond Green later in the game where they bumped knees. However, he stayed in the game after appearing to be in visible pain and finished the game.

“It was just me and Draymond knee to knee,” Dylan said after the game. “Just fighting for a rebound, so we were both hurt, whatever. But I got over it.”

Dylan, who seems to have found his timing again on the court after his return from his ankle injury, spoke on his process of getting back to form.

“That was my first ever… missing games in my whole entire life. The most games I missed in college in a row was one, I missed two games in five years, so that was my first time really sitting out for a while. So I had to give myself a little grace in returning, and now I feel more active… it just took a couple games for me to get back to where I was at.”

Killian Hayes had 18 points and four steals in the game to help the Kings in their comeback efforts. Dylan was excited to see Hayes performing at a high level and showing what they believe he can do on a regular basis.

“It is nice to see him all over the stat sheet,” Cardwell said of Hayes. “And then he’s a great defender. He is a great teammate, so I’m really happy for him.”

Killian spoke after the game about his role and the keys to his success that come from Doug Christie.

“He [Doug Christie] wants me to be aggressive defensively, picking up, getting deflections and things like that,” Hayes said after the game. “And on offense, just get the guys going and be aggressive as well.”

With the Jazz and Kings both losing on Tuesday, the Kings remain tied with the Jazz for the fourth-worst record in the NBA. The final two games of the season will determine the lottery odds for the draft later this summer.

The Kings will return home to take on the Warriors again on Friday at 7 p.m. PST at the Golden 1 Center.

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. 

Golden State Warriors game wrap: Warriors Snap 4-Game Losing Streak & Beat Kings, 110-105

Golden State Warriors guard (#31) Seth Curry makes a 22-foot three-point jumper on Tuesday, April 7th, 2026, at Chase Center in San Francisco, CA. (Photo Credits to Editor Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – After losing four games in a row, three of them at home, the Golden State Warriors were able to grab a Dub on the Sacramento Kings as Golden State celebrated Asian Heritage Night. This home game was their second-to-last home game, so the Warriors wanted to defend their home and hopefully end their last four games with wins, starting with this one. Also, this would be Golden State’s 605th consecutive sellout. The final score on this Tuesday evening was 110-105, with the Warriors winning by 5 points.

After missing 27 straight games (February 3–April 2) due to right patellofemoral discomfort syndrome, Stephen Curry returned to the starting lineup on April 5 against Houston (the Warriors were 9–18 in those games). Curry last played in a game before April 5 on January 30 against Detroit; he left the game with 4:08 remaining in the third quarter. At 8:38 in the first quarter, Curry came off the bench in a regular-season game for the first time since March 7, 2012, against Memphis, and for the seventh time in his career (Warriors 3-4 in those games).

The Golden State roster is still hurting from the team’s injuries. The Warriors sent out Patrick Spencer, Malevy Leons, Draymond Green, De’Anthony Melton, and Brandin Podziemski as their starters. This is Golden State’s second-to-last home game, and the teams’ third time seeing each other this season. The series for this season was tied entering this game, 1-1, but now the Warriors lead the series match-up, 2-1. These two teams last faced off on January 9th, 2026, here in Chase Center at the Bay. With Golden State winning by 34 points, 137-103.

The Sacramento Kings are also in the same situation as the Warriors with injuries. The team has 8 players out due to injury. So with that, the Kings started with Precious Achiuwa, Maxime Raynaud, Daeqwon Plowden, Devin Carter, and Nique Clifford. The Kings have been eliminated from the playoffs, and is doing their best to end the season with some wins.

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski got the game from the free throw line after being fouled by Kings guard Nique Clifford. After that, both of the teams would go back and forth on exchanging buckets. With the Kings and Warriors both shooting the same on the floor. Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry would come off the bench again , after this game, just being his second game returning from injury.

After the first quarter, the Kings held the lead by one point, 26-25. One thing about these two teams is that the games will always be close to a certain point. The Kings and Warriors were shooting about the same on the floor in all categories. Sacramento and Golden State’s playing style and performance were the exact same, and already there were ten lead changes.

Halfway through the second quarter, the Warriors were starting to get comfortable, seeing some shots go in, and being cautious with the ball. Sacramento shooting above 50% in their categories is keeping them in, but Golden State hit some big three-pointers to give them the momentum. Also, the Warriors’ transition and hustle were big factors on how the score was starting to change.

The Warriors went into the final minutes making five three-pointers, two of which would end up being four point play conversions by Stephen Curry. His shots from deep are what helped push the Warriors’ lead even more. By halftime, the score was 66-53, and Golden State led over Sacramento. At the moment, the Warriors were being lead by guard Stephen Curry with his 14 points, three rebounds, and going 3-of-6 from deep.

Throughout the third quarter, both teams would have a big jump in their turnovers, especially Golden State. The Warriors would go from five turnovers to 16 turnovers. However, both teams took advantage of each other’s turnovers as both teams had pick up 19 points from it. The Warriors would shoot eight three pointers, but went cold, as they only made just one of them. Golden State would just drop 19 points in the third quarter.

The Kings’ resilience and hustle were their factor on how they kept them in the game. King’s guard Killian Hayes would hit his third three-pointer of the night. With that shot going in right before the end of the third quarter, the Warriors would hold on to the lead by just four points, 85-81. Although the Kings only made two three-pointers in the third as well, Sacramento’s presence in the paint helped a lot as they had more than the Warriors in there, the Kings would have 40 points compared to the Warriors’ 34 points.

At the start of the fourth quarter, the Kings were pressuring more on defense and showing more of their intensity as they were able to get within two points. By the eight minute mark, the Kings were up by two points, 91-89. The Kings were able to see more shots go in than the Warriors, and just fight for more rebounds than them when it mattered to help solidify their lead.

Entering the last three minutes of play, the score was 104-100, the Kings lead by three points. “The Battle of NorCal” never disappoints wherever its being played at, whether in San Francisco or Sacramento. As Kings and Warriors exchange three-pointers in back-to-back sequences. Warriors Brandin Podziemski would hit a 24-foot three pointer that gave Golden State the lead, and was ultimately the dagger on the Kings. After that, the Warriors would run out the clock and take the win.

Out of the nine players that Golden State played, six of them were in double digits. However, it would be De’Anthony Melton leading the team tonight with his 21 points, four rebounds, and five assists. In his second game back, Stephen Curry dropped 17 points, five rebounds, and two assists to get the Warriors’ 22nd home win this season. The Warriors would end the night with 17 made three-pointers.

The Golden State Warriors return to Chase Center on Thursday evening and will host the Los Angeles Lakers. That game will be the final home regular season game for the Warriors, so Golden State again will defend their home, and will try to get a win for Dub Nation in the home finale. The Kings and Warriors will see each other one more time, but in Sacramento this Friday on April 10th in Golden 1 Center.

Sacramento Kings podcast Tony Renteria: Kings Devin Carter leading the offense as Sac opens two games against Golden State

Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) drives past Sacramento Kings guard Nique Cilfford (5) in the first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Sun Apr 5, 2027 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings Podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 How will Devin Williams attack the Warriors’ perimeter defense, and can he consistently break down defenders like Stephen Curry and Bradin Podziemski off the dribble?

#2 Can Maxime Raynaud control the glass and facilitate the offense against Draymond Green’s defense in the paint and at the high post?

#3 Keegan Murray was missed for most of this season talk about how that impacted the Kings this season.

#4 How effective will Malik Monk be as a spark off the bench, and can his shot creation exploit the Warriors’ second unit?

#5 Can Nique Clifford find rhythm early from beyond the arc, and how will his off-ball movement challenge Golden State’s defensive rotations?

Tony Renteria did Sacramento Kings podcasts during the 2025-26 season for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast Barbara Mason: Kings to face Warriors twice Tuesday and Friday

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) is guarded by the Sacramento Kings Killian Hayes (3) in the first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Sun Apr 5, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast Barbara Mason:

  1. On March 14 the Sacramento Kings pulled an upset over the Los Angeles Clippers beating them 118-109 but Apr 5 Sunday night was a whole new ball game as the Clippers dominated in a must win for Los Angeles 138-109. The Clippers are currently in ninth place a half game behind the Trailblazers so the win Sunday night was critical for Los Angeles.

2. A number of Kings remained out for this game. Russell Westbrook remain out with a toe issue and they have listed the return of Keegan Murray as April 7 but will that happen? The Kings will see if either of them will be on the court as the season winds down.

3. The Kings did not get a whole lot from either starters nor their bench Sunday. In contrast, the Clippers Kawhi Leonard was on fire as was bench player John Collins.

4. Sacramento struggled for most of the game, they fell behind early and got blindsided in the third quarter as the Clippers really turned it on in the second half blowing the Kings out of the water. Three Kings players barely got into double figures struggling offensively.

5. With only three games left in the season the Kings will now face the Golden State Warriors Tuesday Apr 7 in San Francisco and again on Fri Apr 10 in Sacramento.

Barbara Mason covered the Sacramento Kings podcasts for the 2025-26 season Mondays for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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. 

Clippers Dominate Kings From Start to Finish in 138-109 Blowout

Kris Dunn #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers and Dylan Cardwell #32 of the Sacramento Kings fight for the loose ball during the first half at Golden 1 Center on April 05, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Don Collier/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings were back in action at the Golden 1 Center on Sunday night. The Kings played a rare nighttime Sunday game that started at 6 p.m. PST as they welcomed the Los Angeles Clippers to town.

The Kings, who are well outside of the NBA’s playoff picture, attempted to play spoiler to the Clippers, who entered the game a half-game back of the eighth play-in spot.

The Clippers definitively defeated the Kings 138-109 on Sunday night.

In the first quarter, the Clippers jumped all over the Kings to open the game. The Clippers put up a massive 42 points in the quarter as Kawhi Leonard led the way with 13 points. The Kings managed 32 points of their own in the quarter, aided by nine points from DeMar DeRozan, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with the Clippers’ pace and shot-making early in the game.

In the second quarter, the Clippers took their 10-point lead and expanded it to 12 points. The Clippers outscored the Kings 29-27 in the second quarter of action to take a 71-59 lead into halftime. The Clippers were led in first-half scoring by Kawhi Leonard, who had 15 points, and Darius Garland, who was close behind with 13 first-half points. The Kings’ best scoring came from Daeqwon Plowden, who scored 10 first-half points, as DeMar DeRozan and Nique Clifford each added nine of their own.

In the third quarter, the Kings trailed by 12 points and desperately needed a spark to mount a comeback.

The third quarter was unkind to the Kings as the Clippers outscored them 36-20 to blow the game open and expand their lead to 107-79, with a 28-point cushion heading into the fourth quarter. Devin Carter led the Kings’ minimal scoring efforts in the third quarter as he put up seven points for the Kings. The Clippers continued their offensive push with 11 more points from Kawhi Leonard, who finished the third quarter with 26 points to lead the Clippers.

The fourth quarter was more of an afterthought as the Kings were squarely out of the game.

In the fourth quarter, the Clippers outscored the Kings 31-30 to win all four quarters against the Kings and finish the game with a 138-109 victory. The Kings didn’t lead at any point in the game as the Clippers took the lead on the first basket and didn’t look back. Devin Carter, Nique Clifford, and Dylan Cardwell each scored seven points in the final quarter of the game to lead the Kings, while Kobe Sanders scored 14 fourth-quarter points for the Clippers as the game wound down.

The Kings were led in scoring by Devin Carter, who scored 21 points in the game, while Nique Clifford added 18 points in the contest. Big man Maxime Raynaud had an 11-point, 16-rebound performance, while Dylan Cardwell added 15 points.

The Kings will head on the road to take on the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday at 7 p.m. PST at Chase Center.

Sacramento Kings podcast Tony Harvey: Raynaud leads with 28 points against Pelicans

Sacramento Kings center Dylan Cardwell (32) raises an arm after scoring a basket against the New Orleans Pelicans in the first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Fri Apr 3, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast Tony Harvey:

#1 How did Maxime Raynaud impacted the game offensively scoring 28 points in the Kings’ win?

#2 What key defensive plays did Dylan Cardwell make in the final seconds, and how did they influence the outcome of the game?

#3 Nique Clifford contributed to the Kings’ scoring effort with 23 points and finishing second in scoring.

#4 In what ways did Devin Carter contribute beyond scoring during the closing moments of the game?

#5 How did Daeqwon Plowden help seal the victory late in the game, and what specific action secured the win?

Tony Harvey does the Sacramento Kings podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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. 

March Western Conference Rookie of the Month Raynaud leads Kings to thrilling 117-113 comeback win with 28 points over Pelicans

Happy Sacramento Kings circle around the beam button from left to right Precious Achiuwa (left), Dylan Cardwell (32), Daeqwon Plowden, Nique Clifford (5), and Maxime Raynaud (42) after defeating the New Orleans Pelicans at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Fri Apr 3, 2026 (AP News photo)

Friday, April 3, 2026

Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California

New Orleans Pelicans 113 (25-53)

Sacramento Kings 117 (21-57)

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–In a season that has lacked thrilling moments, the Kings created some Friday night, as they came all the way back from a 17-point deficit in the second quarter, led by March Western Conference Rookie of the Month Maxime Raynaud, to a late 117-113 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Following a 123-115 win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, the Kings had a chance to do something they have only done four times all season, and that was win back-to-back games. The Kings would be up against another team that will be going home for the summer in less than 10 days, the New Orleans Pelicans.

Contrary to reporting by The Onion, the Kings won the opening tip, and we had a game here at Golden 1 Center Friday night. The Pelicans opened up an early 7-2 lead, as Zion Williamson and Saddiq Bey led the early charge. Maxime Raynaud scored all of the Kings’ first eight points of the night, and helped close the deficit to 9-8.

DeMar DeRozan hit a jumper to give the Kings their first lead of the night, 10-9 with 7:31 left in the first quarter. However, after Trey Murphy the III slammed one down just 35 seconds later, New Orleans took control of the game.

The Pelicans led 30-21 at the end of the first quarter, and then had opened their lead to 55-38 with 4:25 left in the second quarter. This was looking to be an uneventful laugher. However, the Kings closed out the quarter with a 17-11 run to close the deficit to 66-55 at the half.

By the half, Jeremiah Fears, who had not started the game for the Pelicans, led both teams with 18 points. Raynaud led the Kings with 17 points in the first half, and it wasn’t even close. Daeqwon Plowden was second with nine points.

The Kings carried their momentum into the third quarter, as they went on a 9-3 run in just the first minute and 43 seconds. The Pelicans just as quickly regained the momentum, and opened their lead back to 81-71 with 6:54 to go. The Kings were able to tread along for the rest of the quarter, and trailed 92-85 at the end.

Nique Clifford and Precious Achiuwa came alive in the third quarter, scoring nine and eight points respectively in the quarter. Bey scored eight in the third quarter, doubling his overall point total for the night to 16.

DeRozan scored six points in the third quarter to get his total for the night to ten, and he opened the fourth quarter with a pair of jumpers to close it to just a three-point game at 92-89. Devon Carter, who had only scored three points on the night, then hit a three to tie the game at 92-92, and the 15,422 here at Golden 1 Center went berzerk.

The Pelicans immediately retook the lead on a dunk by Murphy. Fears then hit a layup after being fouled, and hit his shot from the line to open New Orelans’ lead back to seven at 105-98 with 6:10 to go.

Plowden hit a three to send a message that the Kings were still coming. Bey was fouled, and hit both from the line. Raynaud then hit a jumper and a layup, and it was back to a two-point game at 107-105 with 4:25 to go.

In what had seemed to be a lopsided affair between two teams completely out of contention, a real thriller was arising, as this one was going to go all the way down to the bitter end. Raynaud re-tied it with a jumper, and after Fears put the Pelicans back ahead with a jumper, Clifford hit one of his own.

It was now 109-109 with 3:23 left. Plowden took a flagrant foul from Derik Queen, and hit all three from the line. The Kings were now ahead for just the second time Friday night, and were two minutes and 37 seconds away from an improbable win.

The game stayed tight, but the Kings held their lead for the remainder of the game, and won it 117-113.

Maxime Raynaud has had an incredible couple of days. Thursday, he was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for March. Friday night, he scored 28 points in an incredible come-from-behind win for the Kings. He also had nine rebounds, and four assists.

Raynaud was on hand courtside to light the beam, and most of the 15,422 here at Golden 1 Center Friday night went home happy.

Four games left for the Kings now, and they will welcome the Los Angeles Clippers to Sacramento for an evening game on Sunday. The Clippers are currently the ninth seed in the Western Conference, and are right now playing to determine which games they will play in in the play-in tournament.

Tipoff will be at 6 p.m.