- Given that Curry, Thompson, and Green mocked him earlier in the season for missing an open game-tying shot, this contest probably is going to come down to Harrison Barnes hitting a clutch attempt.
- The Kings players gave each other season ending accolades. This sounds like a fun idea!
- The only thing Spurs fans have probably missed in the last five years of lottery living? The 3 1⁄2 minute television timeouts in the playoffs.
- I’m not sure when it happened, but the State Farm commercials have seemingly jumped the shark for some time.
- It would seem like Kevon Looney was the best Warriors matchup for Sabonis, but Steve Kerr went first with Trayce Jackson-Davis, then Kuminga. Looney entered the game once Sabonis scored easily over Green.
- I’m still convinced Thompson would make a solid late-career bench player for the Spurs.
- Former Spur Trey Lyles is a rotation player for a playoff team. Player development indeed happens (repeatedly) on the Spurs roster.
- Ellis was a revelation on both ends. He swiped balls from several unsuspecting Warriors in his 40 minutes. San Antonio needs these unselfish athletic guys on their bench that don’t need or require plays to be run for them with Wembanyama and Vassell taking a good chunk of the available shots next season.
- Murray, featured in the Kings’ halfcourt sets, netted 11 of their first 13, while the Warriors tried to set up the non-Curry starters from the frenzied onset. Two freebies by Ellis put Sacramento up by nine. Long threes from Curry and Brandon Podziemski prevented the Warriors from falling way behind. The last few minutes of the frame yielded a flurry of turnovers, but Murray’s wing three put the Kings 31-22.
- After Lyles’ block on Kuminga, Barnes’ corner three in transition put Sacramento two touchdowns up early in the second period. After Ellis swiped the ball from Thompson, he clumsily found Sabonis in traffic for a layup. Threes from Chris Paul and Moody kept Golden State within striking distance; then Kuminga discovered his offense shortly after. Despite a subpar half, the Warriors were fortunate to head into the break down four.
- The teams resumed the helter-skelter pace in the third period, and the referees swallowed their whistles to further foment the intensity. Ellis swiped another steal from Curry and Murray converted his fifth three in transition. Barnes’ first three put Sacramento briefly up ten. Consecutive threes by Ellis and Fox of the period put the Kings up 15. Moody’s individual scoring spurt was matched by Sacramento’s scoring balance. Alex Len’s closeout was assigned the Zaza Pachulia foul treatment, but Wiggins converted only one of three. A sign of the night: Curry’s desperation attempt was swatted away by multiple defenders, and Sacramento exited the third up 91-76.
- Sabonis’ free throws and dunk followed by Barnes’ miracle turnaround jumper put Sacramento up 19 to start the fourth. Curry continued his one-man assault on the defense. Back-to-back threes by Murray and Barnes stunned the Warriors, while Green and Curry committed sideline out of bounds violations reminiscent of Lonnie Walker IV. Golden State was unable to mount a final comeback and succumbed to the Kings.
Source: https://www.poundingtherock.com/2024/4/ ... ish-118-94