Sacramento has gone crazy over their Kings. They’re having the time of their lives!
When the Kings started the season, the hope was that they would be at least a “play-in” team. The playoffs? Well, that was a dream for only a few to dare.
When the Kings started 0-4, certainly thoughts of the past 16 years flashed in front of fearful eyes.
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LET THE FUN BEGIN
But now, up 2-0 on the defending-champion Golden State Warriors, you can’t begrudge Kings fans for being a little wacky, crazy and in a celebratory mood.
You want to know what a 2-0 lead on the defending champs looks like? This is downtown SACRAMENTO CA, and Kings fans are not leaving the arena.
Kings in 5 pic.twitter.com/hk3f9zpkGV
— y- -iamtheREALvegasMURPH (@RealMurphdog916) April 18, 2023
Inside the arena, as is custom after a victory, a Kings player Lights the Beam. Malik Monk got the honor after the Game 2 win.
Steve Kerr’s Warriors have never been down 2-0 in a series.
Until they met the Kings.
Light. The. Beam. pic.twitter.com/DfSaSIvHfq
— y – – Clinchmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) April 18, 2023
And outside, the party was also in full stride.
PANDEMONIUM AND BEAMS!!!
SACRAMENTO IS FEELING ITSELF!! pic.twitter.com/eiiJKXMYrn
— The Kings Herald (@thekingsherald) April 18, 2023
SURPRISE! KINGS BRING THE DEFENSE!
The knock on the Kings all year has been their defense, or lack of it. But they showed in Game 2 that they can play defense… at least sometimes. TNT’s Charles Barkley was one person who was impressed.
“They played great defense tonight… They battled.”
Chuck breaks down the @SacramentoKings Game 2 win over the Warriors. #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/1Qs3zbNv4z
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 18, 2023
MITCHELL COMES UP BIG!
The Kings’ top defensive player all year has been Davion Mitchell. As Barkley noted, Mitchell played a key role in the Kings’ defensive effort in Game 2. Here’s just one example.
Davion Mitchell’s screen navigation all game was UNREAL pic.twitter.com/JYvQ8ROg3w
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) April 18, 2023
As big as Mitchell was on the defensive end, his corner three may have been the biggest shot of the game for the Kings. It put them up nine with 1:17 left.
— y – Kings Film Room (@SacFilmRoom) April 18, 2023
Davion’s efforts on the defensive end earned him another Defensive Player Of the Game award.
THAT'S 𝐃𝐏𝐎𝐆 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐍 NO. 7️⃣ FOR DAVION MITCHELL 🔒 pic.twitter.com/vDHvxDUnLn
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) April 18, 2023
Mitchell proudly wore the DPOG Chain to the post-game media session.
Outstanding defense from Mitchell is expected. It didn’t take him long to earn a reputation for being a tough on-ball defender. Mitchell didn’t need to be introduced to another Mitchell, Donovan Mitchell. The two are friends, but last year, as a rookie, Davion showed Donovan the type of on-ball defense Kings fans have come to expect from a guy that’s nicknamed “Off-Night”…
So where did Davion get the nickname “Off-Night”? Let’s let him explain.
NICE, BUT NOT DONE
A 2-0 lead in the series is nice. Kings players are happy to see the fans celebrating, but they are certainly aware that the team hasn’t punched their ticket yet to a second-round matchup. Malik Monk says the Kings are taking things one game at a time.
The Kings aren't "getting too high or too low" after taking a commanding 2-0 lead over the defending champs @SacramentoKings @kcranews @AhmadMonk pic.twitter.com/IJcLH8HPNt
— Michelle Dapper (@KCRAdapper) April 18, 2023
GREEN AND SABONIS
Draymond Green and Domantas Sabonis got wrapped up on the floor with about seven minutes remaining in the game, creating what is now the infamous Draymond-Domas incident.
That feels like something Draymond Green will be ejected and possibly even suspended moving forward… pic.twitter.com/HaAzrHXhkT
— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) April 18, 2023
Sabonis received a technical foul for grabbing Green’s ankle. Green was given a Flagrant Two and subsequent ejection for what appeared to be him stomping on Domas’ chest.
Before being ejected, Draymond engaged the Kings crowd…
draymond vs the entire city of sacramento pic.twitter.com/PI6NL3ay4V
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) April 18, 2023
Kings fans have their feelings about the incident.
Draymond should be suspended. Point. Blank. Period.
— JayMarZZ (@JayMarZZ) April 18, 2023
Sabonis is one of the toughest players in the league. It seems he has been hit in the face at least once in every game this year— multiple times in some games. He has played with a broken thumb on his right hand since late December.
Fortunately, he has survived Draymond’s chest stomp.
X-rays returned negative on Sabonis’ sternum and it appears he’s avoided injury, source tells ESPN. He will undergo additional testing on Tuesday as a precaution. https://t.co/7gmm172EG8
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 18, 2023
And so this Northern California rivalry has heated up, but it is far from over.
Game three will be Thursday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Will Draymond be suspended? Or will he miss the game because of an injury?
Those around the situation expect a fine for Green, but that he will be available for Game 3 given the ejection, Flagrant Foul 2 and circumstances around the incident with Sabonis, sources said. https://t.co/DwuA2G1hKa
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 18, 2023
Warriors star Draymond Green asked for an X-ray on his right ankle after the Game 2 loss to the host Kings after feeling soreness, source confirmed to @andscape @espn. Source adds Green believes the injury came when Kings star Domantas Sabonis grabbed his ankle before the stomp.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) April 18, 2023
The fireworks are sizzling. The Kings had the best road record (25-16) in the West. The Warriors were nearly unbeatable at home. They had the third-best home record (33-8) among all teams in the NBA.
The Kings’ goal to start the season was to make the playoffs. They did that. Any playoff success is like a cherry on top of the sundae.
A 2-0 start against the defending champs feels really good and has Kings fans dreaming bigger dreams!
Light. That. Beam. Hold court with a mighty King by giving this De’Aaron Fox Sacramento Kings 2023 City Jersey Bobblehead its rightful throne in your collection. Shop here today!
