Late comeback falls short as Kings drop home opener to Warriors 122-114
SACRAMENTO — Despite a fierce fourth-quarter comeback led by De'Aaron Fox, the Sacramento Kings dropped their home opener to the Golden State Warriors 122-114 at the Golden 1 Center on Friday night.
This was the first game at Golden 1 Center since Steph Curry eliminated the Kings with a 50-point masterpiece in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series last season. That series sparked a Northern California rivalry between franchises that had never before had success in the same season.
Curry picked up where he left off in last season's playoffs against Sacramento, scoring 41 points.
A sellout crowd in the home opener was energized all night but left disappointed after the Kings once again had no answer for Curry, who put the game away with a back-breaking 3-pointer in the final minute.
Curry scored 16 points in the third quarter to take control of the game. He even converted his 51st career four-point play, punctuated by a little dance to give Golden State an 11-point lead midway through the period.
The Warriors built on that lead after Curry went to the bench late in the third with a 10-0 run capped by Jonathan Kuminga's put-back jam that made it 94-77.
Sacramento mounted a late rally, led by Fox, by taking advantage of sloppy play by the Warriors. The Kings scored 10 straight points to cut a 15-point deficit down to five with 1:15 remaining. But Curry then made his 3-pointer with 43 seconds remaining to seal the game.
Klay Thompson added 18 points and Chris Paul had 10 points, 12 assists and two turnovers in his second game with the Warriors. Paul has 21 assists and only three turnovers this season.
Fox scored 39 points to lead the Kings. Domantas Sabonis added 19 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists.
Sacramento had taken advantage of a long rest by Curry to go on a 14-0 run spanning the first and second quarters to take an 11-point lead. Golden State rallied after Curry returned to the game and led 60-57 at the half.
UP NEXT
Warriors: Visit Houston on Sunday.
Kings: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
