On This Date: Sacramento Says Goodbye To Sleep Train Arena
Apr 9, 2020, 10:31 AM | Updated: 10:31 am
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Four years ago today, Sleep Train Arena closed its doors after a thrilling Kings victory
All athletic events will be on pause for the foreseeable future, which is a tough pill to swallow for sports fans around the world.
While this may be a rough time for Sacramento Kings fans, we can look back on some good times while we wait for basketball to make it’s return.
April 9, 2016 – Kings 114, Thunder 112
On this date four years ago, the Sacramento Kings had an emotional night as they said farewell to Sleep Train Arena, a place that the franchise called home for 28 years.
Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder were in town looking to spoil Sacramento’s final game, as the 54-win team opted to play all of their starters instead of rest for the playoffs.
It was a back-and-forth affair, with 12 lead changes and 12 ties over a hard-fought 48 minutes.
Seth Curry scored 20 points for Sacramento, hitting six of 10 three-point attempts. DeMarcus Cousins fouled out after contributing 15 points and seven rebounds.
The heroes for the Kings were Rudy Gay and Darren Collison, who combined for 51 points in the win. Collison scored 27 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished eight assists, while Gay scored 24 points to go along with eight rebounds.
Collison and Gay traded clutch baskets down the stretch, with Collison hitting a jumper with 34 seconds left to give Sacramento a 108-103 lead. Sacramento would extend the lead to 110-103 after Collison hit two free throws with 25 seconds left.
The Thunder would answer, hitting back-to-back three’s to bring the deficit to 112-109.
After Russel Westbrook was fouled taking a three-pointer, the Thunder guard sank all three free-throwsto tie the game at 112-112 with seven seconds remaining.
Rudy Gay’s game-winning attempt resulted in a shooting foul by Serge Ibaka. Gay went to the line and calmly sank two free-throws with one second remaining, the last points ever scored in Sleep Train Arena, to give Sacramento a 114-112 advantage.
Westbrook’s full court heave at the buzzer would be well off the mark, giving the Kings a nail-biting two point win over a strong Oklahoma City team.
It was an exciting and great ending that “The Old Barn” deserved.
