The NBA script unfolded perfectly in the last games of the regular season, setting up a Play-In Tournament matchup between recent rivals, the Warriors and Kings.
Fans will recall the intense first-round series between Golden State and Sacramento last season, which went to seven games with the Warriors emerging victorious.
Warriors forward Draymond Green anticipates another intense showdown between the two teams.
“It’s always a playoff-type atmosphere,” Green said. “There’s a lot of familiarity between our organizations and it’s developed into a fierce rivalry.”
“For us, it’s just another game we need to win. We have to get it done.”
For the Kings, the early exit in last season’s playoffs serves as motivation, according to guard Davion Mitchell.
“We’re excited to get some payback from last year,” Mitchell said. “We know they’ll bring energy since it’s a home game for us. We’re ready for the challenge.”
Despite the game being held at Golden 1 Center, Green believes the Warriors have an advantage due to their familiarity with the Kings.
“They’ve made some changes, but we know their style well,” Green explained. “We understand their patterns and what they want to achieve. It won’t be a surprise for us.”
However, Mitchell believes the Kings’ improvement on defense could catch the Warriors off guard.
“We’ve been covering for each other and playing strong defense,” Mitchell said. “It’s going to be different from what they’ve seen earlier in the season.”
The two teams are set to face off on Tuesday, April 16, with the game broadcasted on TNT at 10PM (ET).
