Sacramento Kings vs Golden State Warriors Prediction: Another thriller in the making?

The NBA Playoffs have dished some upsets and some games have been thrilling. The Clippers win over the Suns means that the West looks wide open and the higher seeds have to be wary in the first round itself. And the Sacramento Kings will have to be wary of the Golden State Warriors as they meet in Game 2 of the West Conference Opening Round.

In Game 1, the action was close from start to finish and the teams were within striking range of each other. It was close till the last minute and with 47 seconds to go, Stephen Curry made a layup to cut it to one but Andrew Wiggins missed a three-pointer with ten seconds to go and then Malik Monk was fouled with two seconds to go and put on two free-throws to acquire a three-point lead. Then Stephen Curry missed the three-point with the shot-clock expiring.

De’Aaron Fox led all scorers, compiling 38 points on an efficient 13/27 shooting. Malik Monk had a strong game for the Kings too and buried an essential 32 points whereas Trey Lyles also contributed 16 points and six rebounds off the bench. Domantas Sabonis was stifled by Draymond Green and Looney, shooting just 6/17. Huerter couldn’t connect on either of his five attempts from the three-point line. For the Warriors, Curry as usual led the way and dipped 30 points whereas Klay Thompson had 21 points, both combining for 11 triples. Wiggins and Poole had 17 each off the bench and this turned out to be the combined highest-scoring game in the Playoffs thus far.

• Kings: OUT: Matthew Dallavedova;
• Warriors: OUT: Ryan Rollins, Andre Iguodala. QUESTIONABLE: Jordan Poole, Ty Jerome.

• Expected Leading Scorers: Stephen Curry(31-36 Points), De’Andre Fox(29-35 Points);
• Expected Leading Rebounders: Domantas Sabonis(13-17 Rebounds), Kevon Looney(9-11 Rebounds);
• Expected Leading Playmakers: Domantas Sabonis(9-11 Assists), Draymond Green(7-9 Assists).

These two almost combined for 250 in the first game and it is not a surprise because both of these teams play pace-up basketball and shoot a lot from deep which creates fast-break opportunities for their opponents. It will be interesting to see how the Warriors’ defense responds in Game II and whether Andrew Wiggins is given an extension in minutes. Anyway, I am in pinch picking the winner but expect the scoring to go over 240 here.