Light The Beam: Kings Take Down Defending Champion Warriors In Game 1

It's time to light the beam in Sacramento as the Kings took down the defending champion Golden State Warriors with a 126-123 win in Game 1.

De'Aaron Fox was phenomenal in his NBA playoff debut. The All-Star guard scored 38 points on 13-of-27 shooting, to go along with five rebounds, three steals, and four three-pointers. Fox's 38 is tied for the second-most points ever in a postseason debut. Mavericks star Luka Doncic owns that distinction when he scored 42 points in his first playoff game in 2020.

De'Aaron Fox shined in his first playoff game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JfUCbZLEhQ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 16, 2023

His college teammate Malik Monk wasn't far behind as he dropped 32 points and went 14-of-14 shooting from the freethrow line in his first-ever postseason game. 

The Kings managed to overcome an uncharacteristically inefficient night from Domantas Sabonis, who went just 5-of-17 from the field. He did finish with 12 points and 16 rebounds. 

Sacramento trailed by as much as 10 points but used a late third quarter surge to enter the final frame with a one point lead. 

Both teams traded big shots down the stretch, but a 7-0 burst late in the fourth spelled the difference for the game. 

Nonetheless, the Warriors still had their chances to win or send the game into overtime. Stephen Curry missed a golden opportunity to tie the game after he sprung open for a three-pointer that would have sent the contest into an extra session.

Curry finished with 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting and six three-pointers. He made several huge shots down the stretch, but couldn't cash in on the potential game-tying basket.

Andrew Wiggins, who returned from a two-month absence, came off the bench and had 17 points. But he shot just 1-of-8 from long distance and missed an open corner three-pointer late in the fourth that would have given Golden State the lead.

Klay Thompson added 21 points with five three-pointers.

Sacramento will look to take a 2-0 lead on Monday.

Photo Credit: Bleacher Report/ESPN