Warriors vs Kings Series Preview: Previous Meetings, Key Players, and Schedule

• The Warriors and the Kings will lock horns in the first round of this year’s playoffs
• The Warriors have won three of their last four meetings against the Kings
• Stephen Curry and De’Aaron Fox are expected to take center stage in this matchup

After a 17-year absence, the Sacramento Kings are back in the NBA Playoffs.

The Kings will be tested quickly in the first round as they will face defending champions Golden State.

Here’s a breakdown of the series between the Warriors and the Kings.

Previous meetings this season

The reigning champs fared well against the Kings this season, with Golden State going 3-1 against Sacramento in their four meetings this campaign.

Warriors beat undermanned Kings, edge closer to clinching playoff spot

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The Warriors defeated the Kings 130-125 in their first meeting on October 23. They replicated that feat on November 7, with Golden State pulling off a narrow 116-113 win.

The Kings finally snapped their seven-game losing streak against the Warriors on November 13, with Sacramento recording a 122-115 victory.

The Warriors won the season series when they thrashed the Kings 119-97 on April 7.

Key players for the Warriors 

The reigning NBA Finals MVP is again healthy, which is terrible news for the Kings.

Curry loves playing against Sacramento, averaging 33.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in four games against the Kings this season.

He shot 58.4% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc against Sacramento.

Another player who is ready for the Kings is Klay Thompson. He is peaking at the right time, averaging 26.3 points in his last four games in the regular season.

Watch Warriors bench lose their minds after Jonathan Kuminga's powerful dunk

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The Splash Brothers are licking their chops at the prospect of facing the Kings. They have made a combined 1,012 career 3-pointers in the playoffs.

Key players for the Kings

To advance to the Western Conference Semifinals, the Kings must get outstanding performances from their All-Star duo De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.

Fox averaged 25.0 points, 6.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game this season. He shot 51.2 percent from the field this campaign, per Yahoo! Sports.

Fox stepped up his game against the Warriors, averaging 25.3 points and shooting 51.3 percent from the floor.

Sabonis stuffed the stat sheet for the Kings, averaging 19.1 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game this season. He made history this campaign, becoming only the third NBA center to record at least 1,500 points, 900 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single season.

Sabonis needs to deliver in the postseason, though. He averaged just 9.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 13 career playoff games.

Warriors score 55 points in the first quarter vs. Blazers in final regular season game

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Series schedule 

Game 1: Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings, Golden 1 Center (April 15, 8:30 p.m. ET)

Game 2: Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings, Golden 1 Center (April 17, 10:00 p.m. ET)

Game 3: Sacramento Kings at Golden State Warriors, Chase Center (April 20, 10:00 p.m. ET)

Game 4: Sacramento Kings at Golden State Warriors, Chase Center (April 23, 3:30 p.m. ET)

Game 5: Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings, Golden 1 Center (April 26, Time TBA)*

Game 6: Sacramento Kings at Golden State Warriors, Chase Center (April 28, Time TBA)*

Game 7: Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings, Golden 1 Center (April 30, Time TBA)*

* if necessary

Curry nervous about the playoffs

Sports Brief recently reported on Curry’s playoff revelation.

The Golden State Warriors star said he still has butterflies when the postseason starts.

That is surprising, as Curry has already won four NBA championships.