NBA Game 3 Preview: Sacramento Kings at Golden State Warriors

Apr 20, 2023

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Game: Sacramento Kings @ Golden State Warriors

Time: 10:00 p.m.

Odds: Kings +5.5, Warriors -5.5

Total:  239.5

The Golden State Warriors will try to take the first step toward escaping a 2-0 hole against the Sacramento Kings in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series tonight. Golden State is now down 2-0 for the first time under Steve Kerr, a period during which four of the team’s previous six playoff appearances resulted in championships.

Making matters even more difficult for Golden State is Draymond Green. For stomping on Domantas Sabonis’ chest during the fourth quarter of Monday’s 114-106 loss in Sacramento, Green received a flagrant 2 foul which resulted in his ejection. After the league reviewed the incident, Green was suspended for one game. He will not be on the floor for the Warriors tonight.

This will be just the second time in his career that Green will miss a playoff game. The last time that occurred, he was suspended for Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. At the time, the Warriors were leading the series 3-1 before dropping the next three games. In the regular season, Golden State played nine games without Green and only won three of them. However, they did win both games without Green at home.

Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, two seasoned Warriors, expressed similar optimism in response to Golden State’s first 2-0 playoff deficit since 2007. Neither player feels pressure and the Warriors won’t hit the panic button just yet, especially since Golden State gets the next two games at home. The Warriors had one of the best home records in the NBA at 33-8.

The Kings need just two more victories to advance to the conference semifinals. Despite being outshot 47.7 percent to 45.3 percent overall and 32.2 percent to 30.0 percent on 3-pointers, they won Games 1 and 2.

Sacramento has a 91-82 advantage in rebounds, including a 29-18 advantage on offensive boards. They also have a 47-36 advantage in free-throw points (61 attempts compared to 45 for Golden State), and eight fewer turnovers (35-27).

Holding those advantages has been great according to Mike Brown, the Kings head coach and the 2023 NBA Coach of the Year. Brown would still like to see his offense pick up the pace. The Kings led the NBA in scoring this season averaging 120.7 points per game.

In addition to Green being out for Golden State, Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, and Gary Payton II are listed as questionable. Sabonis has been listed as questionable for Game 3 by the Kings due to a bruised sternum.

The Warriors are 12-1 SU in their last 13 home games. They have beaten Sacramento six straight times at the Chase Center. The Kings are just 3-8 SU in their last 11 games against the Warriors. They have, however, been strong against the number. Sacramento is 6-3 ATS in their last nine games overall. The Kings are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 on the road and they are 5-1 ATS in their last six against Golden State.

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