The Kings couldn’t extend their first-round NBA playoff series lead against the Warriors in Game 3 on Thursday, but history could be on their side as they approach Game 4.
Other than an 0-4 start to the 2022-23 NBA regular season, the Kings avoided any alarming losing skids all season. They held themselves accountable, made the proper adjustments and corrected them in the games following and beyond.
Coming off their first playoff loss, the Kings' season-long composure and confidence won’t change for Game 4 on Sunday at Chase Center. Sacramento coach Mike Brown explained why his players have been able to stay level-headed all year.
“Their competitive spirit is at a high level, meaning they know, ‘OK we let this one slip away or we let these two slip away, so let’s get back to doing what we do at a higher level. Let’s bring it even more so the next time we get on the floor,’ ” Brown said after practice on Saturday. “And a lot of times it doesn’t even have to necessarily do with making shots, it’s just our level of intensity. Our sense of urgency. Our level of physicality.
“All those things, small things, while winning the possession game, usually result in us doing a good job the next time up and hopefully, that’s what happens tomorrow.”
Domantas Sabonis, who finished Thursday's contest with 15 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and two rebounds, seconded what his coach said. When asked if he felt his teammates were timid entering Game 3, he said "definitely not" and noted that he is ready to turn the page on the loss and shift his focus to Sunday.
“I think a lot of guys just bounce back quick," Sabonis said. "No one likes to play two bad games in a row. Individually and as a team, so we got to flip the switch quick."
NBA
Aside from the four consecutive losses to begin the season, the Kings’ next loss came against the Miami Heat on Nov. 2. They bounced back in their next game with a 126-123 overtime win against the Orlando Magic.
Going down the list, they fell to Golden State by three points on Nov. 7 and then responded with a seven-game win streak that kept their victory beam lit atop Golden 1 Center for nearly two straight weeks.
That’s been the flow of the season for Sacramento, which is making its first playoff appearance since 2006.
And if there’s one guy who knows anything about poise, it’s Kings rookie Keegan Murray. The 22-year-old forward has had his struggles over the entire series, but he has confidence in himself -- and so does the team.
“Yeah I mean I’m fine, I feel like last game I came out aggressive and ended up getting in foul trouble early,” Murray said. “So my confidence is fine, I got people around me who are confident in me. So my mentality going into Game 4 is to keep being aggressive and I feel like eventually my time will come.”
Murray is averaging just 3.3 points on an underwhelming 3-of-13 shooting (23.1 percent) from the field and 1 of 8 (12.5 percent) from behind the arc -- where he broke the all-time NBA rookie 3-point record this season.
He's not the only one struggling from downtown, either. Collectively over the first three games of the series, the Kings are shooting 13 of 117 from 3-point range -- that's just over 11 percent. They finished the season shooting the 3-ball at 36.9 percent, and they know they're capable of matching that in the postseason.
"I feel like [the physicality] hasn’t affected our shots going down, we’re still getting open shots still, we’re just not converting," Murray said. "That’s happened throughout the year this year and we know that eventually the tide will change in that and we’re just continuing to take the same shots we’ve always took throughout the season and we know that eventually, they’ll go in.
“Obviously we know we can shoot better on that end of the floor, that’s been a point of emphasis for us, but we know if we’re not shooting well then we need to get stops on the other end. We know being up 2-1 is something that you would want going into this series so we’re fortunate to be in this spot, but we know we need to capitalize on that offensive end."
RELATED: Why Kings are enduring shooting struggles vs. Warriors
Murray, though, is ready to change that. He's staying patient and ready for his breakout playoff game.
"I feel like I’m due," Murray said. "But obviously, with the flow of the game, I feel like I can play a lot better than what I have so far."
Only time will tell, but if the Kings' future is anything like their past this season, they'll be in good shape.