To open the first round of the playoffs, Game 1 between the No. 6 seed Golden State Warriors and No. 3 seed Sacramento Kings provided fireworks.
The Warriors landed the first punch, jumping out to an early lead. Led by Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole, four members of the Warriors tallied double figures in the first half as theGolden State carried a six-point lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Kings arrived as the Warriors’ road struggles began to show again. In the third quarter, the Kings quickly erased the Warriors’ advantage, stealing a one-point lead before the start of the final frame.
While Steph Curry kept things close for the Warriors, it wasn’t enough down the stretch against the former Kentucky backcourt partnership of Fox and Malik Monk. Fox tallied 15 of his game-high 38 points in the fourth quarter to help the Kings take an early 1-0 lead in the opening-round series against the defending champions.
Monk added 32 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field with three boards and two assists in 29 minutes off the bench in Sacramento’s narrow 126-123 win over Golden State.
Curry led the Warriors with 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field with six made triples in 37 minutes for the Warriors.
In his long-awaited return to the court, Wiggins notched 17 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the floor with four blocks, three rebounds and an assist in 28 minutes off the bench.
Following the Warriors’ loss in Game 1 against the Kings, the NBA community on Twitter exploded with different reactions. Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying on Saturday night.
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🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/SD2sbnUrIK
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) April 16, 2023
Kings had 17 offensive rebounds and 21 second-chance points. Steve Kerr said those stats were among the biggest problems for Golden State tonight.
— C.J. Holmes 🚀 (@CjHolmes22) April 16, 2023
Final: Kings 126, Warriors 123
-Warriors outscored Q3 (36-29) and edged in Q4 (35-33)
-Warriors: Non-Curry minutes were a disaster
-Kings: fearless and persistent— Monte Poole (@MontePooleNBCS) April 16, 2023
Fox's 38 points are also tied for the second-most in a playoff debut all-time behind just Luka Doncic's 41. H/t @ESPNStatsInfo
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) April 16, 2023
Kings escape with a Game 1 home win. Warriors went 16-of-50 from 3. De'Aaron Fox lit them up in the second half: 29 of his 38 points. Malik Monk scored 32 off the bench. Made all 14 free throws. Sets up a crucial Game 2 in Sacramento on Monday night and likely long series.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 16, 2023
Stunner in Sacramento. Warriors squander double-digit lead, fall to the Kings 126-123 in Game 1. Crowd is still going nuts.
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) April 16, 2023
Stephen Curry's 3-pointer at the buzzer falls short. Kings win Game 1, 126-123.
— C.J. Holmes 🚀 (@CjHolmes22) April 16, 2023
Sacramento wins their first playoff game since 2006, beating the Warriors 126-123.
Tremendous game from De'Aaron Fox: 38 points on 13-of-27 shooting. Malik Monk adds 32 points. They are the second duo to score 30 points while both making their playoff debt in NBA history.
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) April 16, 2023
Ton for the Warriors to be encouraged about in Andrew Wiggins' return, but his jumper wasn't there and that has stung them. Now 1-of-8 from 3 and just missed a go ahead open corner 3 with 10 seconds left.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 16, 2023
LIGHT THE BEAM 🟣🔦
KINGS BEAT WARRIORS TO TAKE GAME 1 pic.twitter.com/bYBIEJpZYM
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 16, 2023
Watching this Kings-Warriors Game 1 pic.twitter.com/nj1kYFHXd8
— Overtime (@overtime) April 16, 2023
Kings guard De’Aaron Fox and owner Vivek Ranadive light the beam after Game 1 win over Warriors pic.twitter.com/TfcVF5cVrK
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) April 16, 2023
.@50cent in the building for Warriors vs. Kings 💯
📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/H11uUWH4cQ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 16, 2023
Game 1 of Warriors/Kings pic.twitter.com/uFVoQFxZRb
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 16, 2023
The "I-80 series" is already in overdrive!
Relive the craziness of the final 5 minutes of Kings/Warriors Game 1… and then think about how this was just Game 1 🤯 pic.twitter.com/gqw7kEQo8G
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2023
Game 1 of the Finals or Game 1 of Kings-Warriors? This is as electric an atmosphere as I’ve seen. pic.twitter.com/V0O3SPo7VI
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) April 16, 2023
“Make Kings-Warriors go 30 games!” pic.twitter.com/XGTkEKZpch
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) April 16, 2023
The Sacramento Kings just beat the Golden State Warriors to win their first playoff game since 2006.
Three former Wildcats combined to score 86 of the the King’s 126 total points
De’Aaron Fox: 38 pts
Malik Monk: 32 pts
Trey Lyles: 16 ptsBIG TIME. #BBNpic.twitter.com/nBBlABU4mc
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) April 16, 2023
Warriors-Kings pic.twitter.com/0mub9e8g8H
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) April 16, 2023
The general feeling from the Warriors after dropping game 1 to the Kings: no sense of panic. Steph Curry says the Warriors thrive in this environment, Curry & Draymond talked about making adjustments for game 2. Chess not checkers, and the dubs have done this before. #dubnation
— Kylen Mills (@KylenMills) April 16, 2023
jokes aside, the nba might get a second-round ratings bonanza with lakers-warriors…or the nba tv classic between the grizzlies and kings. that's a feast/famine situation there.
— bomani (@bomani_jones) April 16, 2023
Kings: 12-for-32 from 3
Warriors: 16-for-50 from 3Kings: 32-for-66 from 2
Warriors: 27-for-40 from 2Maybe the Warriors should realize that the Kings have no rim protection.
— Steve Berman (@BASportsGuy) April 16, 2023
Kings-Warriors Game 1 is an instant classic
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) April 16, 2023
Final: Kings 126, Warriors 123.
The Sacramento Kings lead the series 1-0. First playoff win in 17 years. pic.twitter.com/jPykARz1ez
— Cameron Salerno (@cameronsalerno1) April 16, 2023
WARRIORS-KINGS! THIS GAME! pic.twitter.com/CHpDeeEKvN
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) April 16, 2023
