SACRAMENTO — The phrase “must-win game” is among the most overused in sports.
Though the Kings still *technically* were alive for the six seed in the Western Conference and thus a spot in the actual playoffs heading into Thursday night’s showdown with the Pelicans, the first quarter of that game eliminated not just the slim possibilities of that, but the hope that the Kings could at all control their own destiny over the final weekend of the regular season.
Coming off that stinging loss, Sacramento welcomed the Suns to Golden1 Center one night later, now in a “must-win” situation as they looked to avoid falling to the single-elimination portion of the Play-In Tournament next week.
With luminaries like Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and LeBron James all seemingly destined to be in the Play-In, the Kings are more of an afterthought in the NBA’s postseason. And frankly, down the stretch, they’ve played like one. The losses of Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk have more than just stymied the offensive fluidity and creativity that define this team at its best, they’ve rendered the bench short and player’s legs tired. Settling for threes and hitting the front rim on jump shots has told that story over the last week to ten days, but with just two games to play in the regular season, and two wins necessitated to stay in contention to host a postseason game, the Kings looked to dig deep and find one last burst.
What ended up bursting was their chance at the seven seed.
The first quarter was sloppy and physical, as Sacramento forced three turnovers in the first 90 seconds but trailed early after starting 0-5 from the field. Fortunately, the Suns weren’t much better, and at the first timeout, they led just 11-6.
Sacramento came out of the timeout – during which they honored Chris Webber, in town promoting his new book – with a little juice, as Keon Ellis connected on a tough shot and hit the free throw for a three-point play. But he badly air balled a three on the ensuing possession, sucking the air out of a building that was ready to explode. But Harrison Barnes wasn’t ready to throw in the towel, hitting a three to put the Kings up 12-11 and connecting on a three-point play of his own a few possessions later to retake the lead 15-14. That’s when Domantas Sabonis took over.
A near-disaster of a play by Sabonis followed Barnes’ heroics, as he lost the ball several times in the paint only to find himself alone behind the three point line, where he connected. It was a welcome sign for Sacramento, as the center had recently seen his double-double streak broken and struggled on offense the night before against the Pelicans. He scored 11 points in a dominant first quarter on his way to a 25/12/9 night. Sacramento finished on a 9-4 run to take a 27-22 lead after one.
The second quarter was a story of missed opportunities, as neither team could do enough on offense to put any distance between the other. Sacramento had just four points at the 6:15 mark, but a successful challenge by Mike Brown sparked his squad.
Brown challenged what would have been Sabonis’ third foul for an illegal screen, which was very obviously a terrible call on replay. Brown won the challenge, saved Sabonis from that third foul, and even got one called on Booker – giving Sacramento the ball and leading to a De’Aaron Fox bucket. Sacramento went on a 9-0 run after that play, punctuated by four forced turnovers and a Sabonis poster on Booker.
The Kings finished the quarter on a 23-13 run, forcing 12 first half turnovers by the Suns and taking a 54-45 advantage into the break.
The Suns came out firing out of the halftime break Friday night, but in a welcome change, the Kings matched them shot for shot. Sacramento turned their nine point first half advantage into 14 in a flourish, forcing a Phoenix timeout.
With the Suns threatening, Keon Ellis ended an 0-4 streak from three to put his team back up 14 with 5:29 to play in the quarter, forcing another Suns timeout. Phoenix followed with a quick 5-0 run, and Brown stemmed the tide with a timeout of his own. Sacramento would hold serve through the frame and take an 11 point lead into the fourth quarter, only to see Phoenix claw within five on a Grayson Allen three pointer just a minute in. Allen would convert a three-point play moments later to draw his team within three, and Bradley Beal would tie things up at 91 seconds later to force another Brown timeout.
The Kings pushed the lead back to five thanks to a near impossible driving layup by Fox, who connected as he was falling to the court thanks to a lot of contact in the paint. Allen answered with another three, giving him nine points in the quarter, but Barnes was able to answer, drawing Booker’s fifth foul and hitting both free throws. On the ensuing possession, Fox picked Allen’s pocket, and set up Murray for a three to put Sacramento up seven with 4:48 to play.
The biggest five minutes of their season in front of them, the Kings stumbled.
Bradley Beal connected on a three point play, and Sacramento’s next two attempts were blocked.
But Phoenix could not score on their next two possessions either, and HB took the ball hard to the rack to draw two free throws, pushing the lead back to six with 3:35 to play. Not only was Barnes aggressive on offense, his work defending Kevin Durant was impressive as well – especially down the stretch as the All Star shot just 1-3 from the field in the fourth quarter.
Barnes also had a key bucket with two minutes to play to put his team up four, but Phoenix scored the next four to tie the game at 107 with 51.8 remaining. Fox couldn’t hit the midrange on the next possession, and though the defense forced an Allen miss, Sabonis was called for a foul on the rebound. Nurkic went 1-2 to put the Suns up 108-107 with 8.7 to play.
Once again, the phrase “must-win” came into play.
With the seven seed within their grasp thanks to a Warriors loss, Sacramento needed a player to step up and make a play. As has been the case far too often down the stretch, it didn’t happen.
Fox had two chances at getting off a potential game winner; the first, Phoenix used their foul to give, the second, he lost the ball while triple teamed, turning it over and ending the game.
The final play wasn’t without controversy, though.
“I got fouled. He wasn’t even close to the ball,” Fox bemoaned after the game.
Brown echoed the sentiment.
“From my seat, I’m just baffled,” Brown said. “I’m not sure why we can’t get a call from an NBA official down the stretch. For them to call a box out on Sabonis when the game is as physical as it is and give them two free throw attempts to take the lead with seconds left… I hope I’m wrong, but from my seat, it looked like Fox got hit across the arm. I actually pray that I’m wrong because I’ll sleep better at night.”
In a season that has had its share of disappointing losses, few will sting as much as this one.
Though games come down to much more than a final play or blown call, Mike Brown is obviously tired of the same story being told during this critical stretch run. Whether it was the non-travel call against Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Colby Jones getting hit across the face without a whistle, or tonight’s disparity in contact in each team’s final possession, it’s wearing on the team and the coach.
“It’s tough to wait for the two minute report to hear these things when it’s right in front of them,” Brown said. “To get another two minute report that says they made a crucial mistake in a game this critical, it’s just not fair.”
All five starters for Sacramento finished in double-figures; in addition to Sabonis’ team-high 25, Fox and Murray both had 23, Ellis 17, and Barnes 12. Durant led the Suns with 28, while Booker (21), Beal (20), and Allen (19) all contributed offensively. Sacramento shot just 44% from the field and got just seven points from their bench.
The Kings will now need help to avoid the single elimination 9/10 game, and can no longer control their own destiny in that regard. They will need to beat Portland in the regular season finale Sunday and get help from their arch nemesis Pelicans in order to secure the eight seed and a likely trip to Phoenix.
But no matter what happens Sunday, it will be hard to not look back over the last week and wonder what might have been. Losing five of the last six, including two by one possession, certainly hurts.
“I think we had chances to win, obviously,” Fox said. “We have to figure it out at some point. We can’t sit here and act like the season is over; we are locked into a play-in game. We still have a chance but we have to figure this out.”
On to the Trailblazers.
