Kings can clinch Playoff spot on Saturday–but they’ll need some help

Mar 25, 2023, 10:38 AM | Updated: 10:49 am

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 20: Kevin Huerter #9 and Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Ki...

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

This is not a drill:

The Sacramento Kings can officially clinch an NBA Playoff berth on Saturday night.

Following Friday night’s win over the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento has put itself on the doorstep of ending a 16-season postseason drought by pushing its lead over the seventh-seed Minnesota Timberwolves to 7.5 games.

With a win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday, the Kings would do their part in clinching a playoff spot, but unfortunately, fans won’t be able to celebrate the end of the drought upon the completion of play at Golden 1 Center.

Sacramento will need some help from around the league, as losses by Phoenix and the Los Angeles Clippers–coupled with a Kings win over the Jazz–would lock up a top-six Playoff spot.

Tonight, both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Sacramento Kings can clinch spots in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

Clinch scenarios ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/OGfiuTvgtF

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) March 25, 2023

Phoenix (38-35, 5th seed in the West), who lost in Sacramento on Friday, will face the Philadelphia 76ers at home–a team that will also be on the second night of a back-to-back after losing a battle of a game to Golden State last night.

The Clippers (39-35, 4th seed in the West) will play the ninth-seed New Orleans Pelicans at home in a game with massive seeding implications for both teams.

If Sacramento beats Utah and the Suns lose to the 76ers, fans at Golden 1 Center will have to wait around and scoreboard-watch until the Clippers-Pelicans game concludes (tips off at 7:30 pm PST) to find out if tonight is the night that the Kings clinch.

We’re in the endgame now, folks. If things don’t go Sacramento’s way on Saturday, they can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night.

But today is Saturday, and if the Kings can put a bow on a playoff berth, there’s nothing wrong with getting help from friends (or foes) around the league.

Next Game

Sacramento will be back in action tonight at Golden 1 Center when they face the Utah Jazz for the final time this regular season.

Be sure to get all of your Kings vs. Jazz coverage right here on Sactown Sports 1140 beginning at 5:30 PM PST on Game Night with Scott Marsh and Henry ‘The High Flyer’ Turner before a 7:00 PM PST tip-off from downtown Sacramento.