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Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.
There are rivalries in the NBA. Real ones. Heated ones. Matchups that matter beyond just the standings.
And then there is whatever the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings have going on.
After the Warriors demolished the Kings 137-103 on Friday night at Chase Center, Stephen Curry was asked if Golden State and Sacramento have a rivalry.
His response was immediate and blunt.
“Geographically, yes,” Curry said. “That’s about it.”
There was no hesitation. No diplomacy. Just honesty.
Curry’s response might sting for Kings fans, but it is hard to argue with the underlying point.
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Steph Curry when asked if the Warriors and Kings are rivals:
“Geographically yeah, that’s about it.”
🤣😂
Why Steph Curry Is Right About the Warriors-Kings Dynamic
Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors
GettySteph Curry of the Golden State Warriors remains among the best players in the NBA.
Golden State won a seven-game series against Sacramento three years ago. The Kings beat the Warriors in the play-in tournament two years ago. Those moments happened, sure. But moments do not make a rivalry.
Since the beginning of the Warriors’ first title-winning season in 2014-15, Golden State is 31-13 against Sacramento in the regular season. That is a 70% win rate. Dominant does not even begin to describe it.
The Kings have not won a playoff series since 2004. The Warriors have won four championships since 2015.
One team has been a dynasty. The other has been rebuilding for most of that span. Those are two very different trajectories, and it is difficult to call that dynamic a rivalry in the traditional sense.
Friday night was another reminder of that gap. Sacramento came into the game 8-29 and missing All-Star Domantas Sabonis and starter Keegan Murray. The Warriors were nearly at full strength and playing at home. The result was never in doubt.
Golden State outscored Sacramento 53-19 over the final 14 minutes and 53 seconds of the game. That is not competitive. That is domination.
How Golden State Turned a Close Game Into a Blowout
For most of the night, this game looked closer than it should have.
Sacramento has athleticism and veteran talent, and they kept threatening early. The Warriors led 34-29 after the first quarter, but the Kings opened the second quarter on a 6-0 run to take the lead. Golden State never looked particularly worried, but they also could not build separation.
At halftime, the Warriors led just 63-59. It was their game to lose, but the margin felt uncomfortable given the talent gap.
The third quarter followed the same script. Curry and Zach LaVine went back and forth, trading highlight shots while the lead swapped hands multiple times. With three minutes left in the third quarter, the game was tied at 84.
That is when the Warriors finally buried the Kings.
A lineup of Brandin Podziemski, Will Richard, De’Anthony Melton, Jimmy Butler, and Al Horford closed the quarter on a 13-0 run. Gui Santos opened the fourth quarter with a layup to extend the run to 15-0, and suddenly it was a 20-point game.
From there, the lead just grew. Podziemski took over, draining falling-out-of-bounds jumpers and drawing a technical foul on Russell Westbrook as the Kings’ frustration boiled over. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Warriors had won by 34.
Why the Bench Has Become a Strength
De'Anthony Melton
GettyDe’Anthony Melton of the Golden State Warriors against the Sacramento Kings.
One of the most encouraging developments for Golden State this season has been the resurgence of their bench.
Historically, lineups with Curry off the floor have been a struggle for the Warriors, even during their championship years. But this season, lineups with Butler on the court and Curry off the court have posted a plus-5.8 net rating, according to Cleaning the Glass. That is a massive shift, and it is a credit to Butler’s impact.
On Friday, the bench was exceptional. Melton scored 19 points and went 3-of-6 from three, continuing a hot stretch where he has made 12 of his last 24 attempts after starting the season 6-of-36. Horford finally looks healthy and in rhythm, finishing with nine points and five rebounds in 13 minutes. Gary Payton II had 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting and pulled down nine rebounds.
Podziemski finished with a game-high plus-28. Richard posted a plus-20 plus-minus despite not putting up huge numbers. Together, Golden State’s bench outscored Sacramento’s bench 66-38—a 28-point advantage in a 34-point win.
That kind of depth is what separates good teams from contenders. And right now, the Warriors are starting to look like the latter.
What the Warriors’ Win Means for Their Season
Golden State is now 21-18 and three games above .500 for the first time since mid-November.
This was a must-win game, not because the Warriors were desperate for a victory, but because there was no excuse not to win. They were at home. They were playing an 8-29 team missing key players. A loss would have been a massive red flag.
Instead, they took care of business. And they did it convincingly.
Curry led the way with 27 points and 10 assists on 10-of-21 shooting, including 6-of-12 from three. Seven Warriors scored in double figures. Golden State assisted on 39 of their field goals and turned the ball over just 11 times, continuing a recent trend of better ball security.
The Warriors are trending in the right direction. Their bench is contributing. Their stars are healthy. And their confidence is growing.
Final Word for the Warriors
Steph Curry was right.
The Warriors and Kings are not rivals. Geography might put them close together, but the gap in success is too wide for that label to mean anything.
Golden State has been a dynasty for over a decade. Sacramento has been rebuilding for most of that time. One franchise has four championships. The other has not won a playoff series in over 20 years.
The gap in recent success makes it difficult to call this a rivalry in the traditional sense.
And on Friday night, the Warriors proved that point once again.