Sacramento struggles to create offense during Game 3 loss to Warriors

Following a nine-of-38 (23%) showing from beyond the arc during Monday’s Game 2 win at Golden 1 Center, it was fair to expect that the Sacramento Kings would break out of its three-point funk during Game 3. Right?

Wrong.

Sacramento continued to struggle on offense as a hungry Golden State Warriors team went wire-to-wire during a 114-97 win in front of an amped-up Chase Center.

The defending champions needed a win to keep themselves from falling behind 0-3 in this best-of-seven series, and now the stage is set for a crucial Game 4 matchup between the two teams on Sunday.

#StephGonnaSteph https://t.co/CwPiqSyZxE pic.twitter.com/5f5eB7aERh

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 21, 2023

After starting Monday’s Game 2 by missing their first eleven three-point field goals, the Kings’ offense made it clear early that it would not be their night. Sacramento missed its first six attempts from beyond the arc as the Warriors jumped out to a 29-20 lead after 12 minutes of play.

The second quarter wouldn’t be any kinder to the Kings as they went seven-for-26 (27%) from the field during the period. Once both teams exited the floor for the halftime break, Golden State had built a 53-41 lead while only shooting 35 percent from the field.

Second-chance points and points off of Sacramento’s ten first-half turnovers were the difference as the Kings struggled to showcase its identity as the league’s most dangerous offensive team. The Kings finished the first half with just 41 points–the team’s lowest-scoring first half of the season.

In short, Sacramento never was able to figure out its offense in what was the team’s roughest showing of the season.

The Kings finished the night with a season-worst 38 percent showing from the field, an 11-of-46 (24%) performance from the three-point range, and a 16-of-23 (69%) rate from the free-throw line.

“I think we got good looks, there were just times where we weren’t making shots,” De’Aaron Fox said of the offensive struggles.

Nothing was falling for Sacramento, who struggled with the Warriors’ physicality as they were forced into turning the ball over 15 times. Golden State took advantage of those Kings’ turnovers by scoring 22 points off the mishaps, an aspect of the game that proved deadly.

Offensive rebounds came back to bite Sacramento, with the Warriors outscoring the Kings 24-12 in second-chance points. More times than not, white jerseys were ball-watching as players like Kevon Looney, Donte DiVincenzo, and Jonathan Kuminga crashed the offensive glass.

JONATHAN. KUMINGA.

📺 @NBCSAuthentic pic.twitter.com/JW2EJC0152

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 21, 2023

Golden State’s backs were against the wall, and they pulled off a convincing win without its former Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green, and defensive guard Gary Payton II (illness).

It wasn’t a dominant performance for the Warriors by any means, as the champs finished the night shooting 40 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point range. Stephen Curry’s 36 points led the offensive attack for a Golden State offense that struggled for a large portion of the evening.

Sacramento wasn’t able to take advantage of their opponent’s shooting woes, and the Warriors were. Because of that, we are now looking at a series that is very much up for grabs.

The Kings had an opportunity to take an all-but-guaranteeing series-securing 3-0 lead, and now they will have to beat the Warriors at Chase Center on Sunday if they want to avoid falling back to even in the form of a 2-2 series.

“This is what the playoffs are about,” Kings head coach Mike Brown said postgame. “They’re champions. They’re more than capable. They did what the needed to do tonight.”

Sacramento is facing adversity, something that they have responded to time and time again this season. Now it’s time to see if they can answer the bell against the defending champions on the road.

Notes & Takeaways

Domantas Sabonis and Kevon Looney went at it in the post on Thursday night. Sabonis finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds while Looney grabbed 20 rebounds (nine offense) and handed out nine assists during Golden State’s win.

De’Aaron Fox finished the night with 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists while swiping two steals over 38 minutes.

Keegan Murray continued to struggle during the Game 3 loss, as the rookie scored six points on two-of-seven shooting while picking up five personal fouls over 22 minutes. Murray has scored 10 points on one-of-eight shooting from three-point range during his three appearances this series.

The Kings’ last win at Chase Center came on February 25, 2020.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings Schedule

NBA Western Conference Playoffs – First Round

• Sunday, April 23rd – Game 4: Sacramento Kings @ Golden State Warriors – 12:30 PM PST
• Wednesday, April 26th – Game 5**: Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors – TBD
• Friday, April 28th – Game 6**: Sacramento Kings @ Golden State Warriors – TBD
• Sunday, April 30th – Game 7**: Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors – TBD

**If necessary

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