The Golden State Warriors’ season came to a close on Wednesday night in Sacramento, where a 11-point effort from Kristaps Porziņģis wasn’t enough to overcome a determined Kings squad in the NBA Play-In Tournament. Sacramento secured a 118-106 victory at Golden 1 Center, ending Golden State’s hopes of extending their campaign beyond the regular season.
Porziņģis, acquired by the Warriors at the trade deadline in February, finished with 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting, including 2-of-4 from three-point range. He added five rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes of action before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. While his scoring was modest, the Latvian big man provided spacing and defensive presence that Golden State desperately needed in a must-win scenario.
The loss eliminates the Warriors from postseason contention for the first time since 2019, marking the end of an era defined by four NBA championships in eight years. For Sacramento, the win advances them to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the next round of the Play-In, with the victor earning the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Golden State entered the game as a 2.5-point favorite despite holding the No. 9 seed in the West, reflecting oddsmakers’ faith in their veteran core and recent form. But the Kings, riding a nine-game winning streak heading into the matchup, imposed their will early and never relinquished control.
Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox led all scorers with 28 points, seven assists, and four steals, while Domantas Sabonis recorded his 10th double-double of the month with 22 points and 14 rebounds. The Kings shot 48 percent from the field and 38 percent from beyond the arc, outscoring Golden State 36-24 in the paint — a critical advantage in a game where interior defense was supposed to be a Warriors strength.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry struggled to find his rhythm, finishing with 19 points on 6-of-18 shooting, including just 2-of-9 from three. Klay Thompson added 17 points but was held to 3-of-10 from deep. The Warriors’ vaunted splash backcourt combined for just 5-of-27 from three-point range, a stark contrast to their season average of 38 percent.
Head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the team’s shooting woes postgame, saying, “We didn’t produce enough shots tonight, especially the ones we normally make. Credit to Sacramento — they defended well, moved the ball, and made us work for everything.”
The loss also raises questions about the Warriors’ roster construction moving forward. With Curry (36), Thompson (34), and Draymond Green (34) all entering the final years of their primes, and Porziņģis set to become a free agent this summer, Golden State faces pivotal decisions about continuity versus reinvention.
Porziņģis, who averaged 12.3 points and 5.4 rebounds in 20 games with Golden State after the trade, will now weigh his options in free agency. His ability to stretch the floor and protect the rim made him a valuable playoff-caliber asset, though his availability and fit alongside Golden State’s stars remained a topic of debate throughout his tenure.
For the Kings, the victory represents a significant step forward in their franchise trajectory. Ending a 16-year playoff drought in 2023, Sacramento has now won back-to-back Play-In games to secure postseason appearances in consecutive seasons — a first in franchise history.
General Manager Monte McNair praised the team’s resilience, stating, “This group believes in each other. They’ve been through adversity all year and kept fighting. Tonight was another example of why they deserve to be in the playoffs.”
The Warriors will now turn their attention to the offseason, where key decisions await regarding player options, potential trades, and the direction of a franchise at a crossroads. Whether they choose to retool around their aging core or embark on a rebuild remains to be seen — but one thing is clear: the window that defined a generation of Warriors basketball has closed, at least for now.
As for Porziņģis, his next destination will be watched closely by NBA observers. A versatile seven-footer with shooting range and defensive versatility, he remains an attractive target for contenders seeking frontcourt depth. Whether he returns to Golden State or explores other opportunities will depend on mutual interest and market dynamics.
The NBA playoffs begin Saturday, April 19, with the first round matchups set following the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament. Golden State will begin its offseason regimen shortly, with exit interviews and evaluation meetings expected to start next week.
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