Kings clinch 9th seed, set stage for home Play-In game

The Sacramento Kings have put the finishing touches on the 2024-25 regular season on a high note as they head into the postseason.

Sacramento clinched the ninth seed and home-court advantage in this Wednesday’s win-or-go-home Play-In game thanks to a 109-98 win over the Phoenix Suns at Golden 1 Center on Sunday afternoon in a game that also secured a 40-win season for the Kings.

Although Sacramento (40-42) fell short of finishing .500 or better, they end the regular season having won four of their past six games heading into the Play-in Tournament.

It’s do-or-die time for the Kings, and they’ll need to win two elimination games if they want to advance to the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

Sacramento will face the Dallas Mavericks at home on Wednesday night–a team they beat three times in three meetings during the regular season–as they look to advance to the eighth-seed game.

back-to-back 3️⃣s for ZACHRAMENTO 🎯 pic.twitter.com/rueEQ6WsT6

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) April 13, 2025

Kings vs. Suns recap & takeaways

It didn’t take long for Zach LaVine to lock in on Sunday.

LaVine, who entered play having scored 25+ points in five consecutive games, scored 10 points on four-of-four shooting during the first four minutes of play. The high-scoring guard’s hot start was complimented by Domantas Sabonis (eight points) as the duo accounted for the entirety of Sacramento’s 18-9 opening run.

Backup big man Jonas Valancinuas got in on the early fun as well by scoring 10 points in the first quarter to help the Kings take a 33-25 lead into the second.

Sabonis let the long-ball fly with confidence during the first half, going three-for-three beyond the arc in what was the veteran center’s fifth game this season with three or more made triples (most in a single season during his career).

As strong as Sabonis, LaVine, and Valanciuinas looked early, Sacramento’s defense left the door open for Phoenix as the Suns trimmed a 12-point deficit to 57-54 at the halftime break.

Most games in a season that Domantas Sabonis has made 3+ three-point field goals:

2024-25: 5 games
2021-22: 4 games
2016-17: 4 gamespic.twitter.com/7XOSD8AhZd

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) April 13, 2025

Sabonis and LaVine continued to carry the Kings offense as play entered the second half, and as play advanced through the third quarter, the out-of-town scoreboard became a factor for Sacramento.

Seeing that a Dallas loss ensured a home Play-In game for the Kings, interim head coach Doug Christie pulled his starters off the floor late in the third as the Mavericks trailed Memphis by 25 points.

Sacramento’s bench took Sunday’s regular season finale to the finish line by putting away the Suns, clinching the ninth seed in the West, and setting the stage for single-elimination postseason basketball at Golden 1 Center on Wednesday night.

Valanciunas was the star of the day for the Kings, scoring a Sacrament0-career-high 22 points on 10-of-11 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds and four assists over just 21 minutes.

LaVine scored 16 points on four-of-six shooting from three-point range, finishing the season ranked second in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage (44%).

With the regular season in the rearview, it’s go time for the Kings. Can they overcome a season full of adversity and change by making the NBA Playoffs for the second time in the past 19 years? They can do just that with two more wins.

“To [win the play-in] for this city and this franchise would be amazing,” Domantas Sabonis said of Sacramento’s postseason-opener at home.

Now, it’s time to see if Sacramento can get the job done.

Double-Doubles King

For the third-straight season, Domantas Sabonis has secured the NBA’s double-doubles crown.

Sabonis finished the season with 61 double-doubles over 70 appearances, marking the third consecutive season with 60 or more double-doubles.

The All-NBA center finished the day with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists on eight-of-ten shooting from the field and a perfect four-of-four from three-point land over just 24 minutes.

𝐃𝐎𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐄-𝐃𝐎𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 💪

With his 61st double-double today vs. the Suns, Domantas Sabonis has secured the most double-doubles in the NBA for the third consecutive season. pic.twitter.com/Vj9baAJktJ

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) April 13, 2025

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

It’s win-or-go-home time for Sacramento.

The postseason has arrived as the Kings will play in a do-or-die Play-In game against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center.

If Sacramento wins, they will advance to play the loser of the seventh vs. eighth seed game on Friday night on the road.

The Kings had Dallas’ number this season, sweeping the three-game regular season series while winning each contest by an average of 11.6 points. While the Mavericks have struggled on the road this season (17-24), they have found success at Golden 1 Center over the years (4-3 in Sacramento since the start of the 2020-21 season).

Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks drama right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage starting at 5:30 PM PT on Game Night before action tips off at 7:00 PM PT from downtown Sacramento.

Upcoming schedule for the 2024-25 Sacramento Kings

• Wednesday, April 16th – vs. Dallas Mavericks – Time TBD (Western Conference Play-In Tournament – 9th vs. 10th seed game)
• Friday, April 18th – TBD – Western Conference Play-In Tournament (8th seed game)
• Sunday, April 20th – Start of the NBA Playoffs

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