Kings clinched playoff spot for the first time since 2006 with a win over the Blazers.
Sacramento Kings claims the NBA playoffs, with a 120-80 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.
Sacramento was set to clinch its first playoff berth since the 2005-06 season with a road win against the Trail Blazers, a Minnesota Timberwolves road loss against the Phoenix Suns or an LA Clippers road loss against the Memphis Grizzlies.
But the Kings did it on their own, beating the Blazers after the Clippers won and before the Wolves game came to a conclusion.
“I guess this would be like relief. People can’t keep saying it. It’s over and done with,” point guard De’Aaron Fox said. “We want to do bigger things. But [16] years, it’s a long time. It feels great to get it off of us.”
The Kings also were insistent that returning to the postseason is not the final destination on their journey.
“We know what our goal is. It’s not just to make the playoffs. It’s to make noise there,” guard Malik Monk
The Kings have not played an NBA postseason game since May 5, 2006, at Arco Arena in Sacramento. As a projected higher seed, the Kings are expected to host their first playoff game in 17 years at the Golden 1 Center in downtown. Miller, a regular at Kings home games, might tailgate with the fans once the playoffs arrive.
“They haven’t made the playoffs since I was here,” Miller said. “I’ve been watching them all of these years. I told one of my friends it will be awesome to be on the other side experiencing this as a fan when they make it. They were tailgating three to four hours before a playoff game at the first one I was at in Arco [Arena]. These fans are into it. We can finally get to see the true potential at Golden 1 Center.”
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