Kings vs. Warriors: Score, Highlights and Reaction from 2015 Regular Season
The Golden State Warriors toyed with the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night in a 120-101 home victory, improving to 18-0 on the season.
Draymond Green led the way with his second straight triple-double, posting a line of 13 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists. Green also threw in four blocks for good measure.
GSWStats highlighted the significance of Green's achievement as well as the history the squad continues to make:
Reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry was effective in his 29 minutes on the court, scoring 19 points on only seven field-goal attempts to go with four boards, six dimes and three steals.
Jason Concepcion posted a relevant GIF to summarize Golden State's dominance at Oracle Arena:
Saturday's outcome was never in doubt. After the Kings hung tough in a first quarter that went the hosts' way, 30-29, Sacramento had no chance and refused to play disciplined defense, allowing the Warriors to sink 16 of 30 shots from beyond the arc.
J.A. Adande of ESPN alluded to the impressive clip, noting that selfless, team-oriented basketball is driving the Dubs' raging success:
All-Star big man DeMarcus Cousins wasn't in the lineup for Sacramento after suffering a lower-back strain, per Yahoo's Marc J. Spears. Had he been on the floor, perhaps the visitors could have pounded away in the paint and slowed Golden State's momentum.
Such "what if?" scenarios seem pointless to pontificate on, yet they are all the Kings can cling to.
Kings point guard Rajon Rondo, who was riding the bench after registering seven points and seven assists with three turnovers, had a fitting reaction to one of Andre Iguodala's three treys, per CBS Sports' Matt Moore:
Sacramento didn't have the personnel to hang with the reigning NBA champions for four quarters. There's little shame in that, because through the Dubs' first 18 games, no one has.
ESPN.com's Ethan Strauss made an observation about the Warriors' immense depth:
With Curry as the catalyst, opponents can't account for everyone. Brandon Rush capitalized on his opportunities and sank a team-high four three-pointers en route to 16 points. He reasserted himself as another lethal perimeter shooter Golden State can count on.
Rudy Gay had 20 points on 7-of-20 shooting and seven rebounds for the Kings to lead them in scoring, albeit inefficiently. CSNBayArea.com's James Ham noted that Gay and Rondo had little help, subtly hinting at the team's inferior firepower from the perimeter:
Sans Cousins, Sacramento shouldn't beat itself up over Saturday's loss. On the other hand, the Kings need to find a way to bounce back, because they've fallen to 6-12 and are in danger of enduring another lost season in the competitive Western Conference.
Head coach George Karl's crew will have to hope Cousins heals in time for Monday's home matchup versus the Dallas Mavericks.
As deep as the West is, the Warriors have once again driven the message home that they're a cut above everyone else. Their high-octane offense will go on the road Monday and encounter potential resistance against a youthful, upstart Utah Jazz team that ranks third in points per game allowed.
Postgame Reaction
Marreese Speights, who had 13 points and five boards for Golden State, took to Twitter afterward to thank the fans for the support, writing, "18-0 it was great to get this win tonight before we head on the road for two weeks... @OracleArena was amazing like always.. Let's keep it going #dubnation."
Warriors interim coach Luke Walton spoke about dealing with Harrison Barnes' absence as the typical starter recovers from a sprained left ankle, per LetsGoWarriors:
Rush certainly acquitted himself well filling in for Barnes, as Golden State doesn't appear to miss a beat, no matter who's on the hardwood.
Leandro Barbosa felt congratulations were in order for his teammate Rush's standout performance:
In the most recent NBA Finals, the Dubs benched Andrew Bogut and went small to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers. To Walton's credit, he seems as adept as Steve Kerr in reshuffling the rotation and allowing the Warriors to continue executing at a high level—even in the unfortunate aftermath of an injury.
As long as Curry and Green are in good health, these Dubs seem almost indefatigable in one game, much less a seven-contest playoff series.
