Sacramento Kings Close Arena’s Doors In Grand Fashion

In the final game at their 29-year home, the Sacramento Kings closed the arena’s doors in grand fashion with a big win against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

More from Golden Gate Sports

• Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
• 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
• Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
• 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
• 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve

By most accounts, the 2015-2016 season has been a disappointment for the Sacramento Kings. Despite coming into the campaign with what looked to be their most talented roster in a long time, the Kings will finish this year under .500 for the 10th consecutive season, and miss the playoffs for the 10th straight year as well. They did win 30 games for the first time in eight years, but this season, as a whole, is not what the Kings, or their fans, wanted.

On Saturday night, the Kings were able to finish their home schedule on a high note. Sleep Train Arena (still popularly called “Arco” by fans, the name by which the arena was known from it’s opening in 1988 until 2011) hosted the Kings for the final time on Saturday, as the team will move into the brand new Golden 1 Center next year. The Kings, and guard Seth Curry, threw one heck of a going away party.

A lot of former Kings were in attendance, including four-fifths of the starting lineup from the 2001-2002 season, when the Kings won a franchise-record 61 games and made it to the Western Conference Finals. Guards Mike Bibby and Doug Christie, forward Peja Stojakovich, and center Vlade Divac (the Kings’ current general manager) were on hand, as was that team’s head coach, Rick Adelman, who received a large ovation from the crowd. They were joined by Kenny Smith, Reggie Theus, Scot Pollard, Spud Webb, and so, so many more Kings’ legends.

In addition to all the festivities and nostalgia of seeing the Kings from yesteryear, Sacramento also had a game to play on Saturday night. The third-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, owners of a 54-25 record, were in town to be the final opponent at Sleep Train Arena.

Wearing their classic powder blue uniforms, the Kings were sparked in the early going by guard Seth Curry, who has come on as of late to become a solid contributor for Sacramento. Curry entered the game with just under four minutes to play in the first quarter, and hit five three-pointers in the first half, leading the team with 15 points at the break as the Kings led the Thunder 56-52 after 24 minutes.

More from Sacramento Kings

• Sacramento Kings: Re-grading the team’s 2019 free-agent signings
• Sacramento Kings: Why Fans should be excited about new GM Monte McNair
• Sacramento Kings: Introducing the Harry Giles conundrum
• Sacramento Kings could land the steal of the 2020 NBA Draft in Elijah Hughes
• Sacramento Kings can afford to re-sign Bogdan Bogdanovic

The Thunder wouldn’t go quietly, fighting back to take a lead after three quarters and holding that lead until the final four minutes of the game. Sacramento wouldn’t allow it to go down that way, as they took the lead back late and flew ahead by as many as seven points. As has been Kings’ fashion, they allowed Oklahoma City back in the game, and Russell Westbrook‘s three free throws tied the game at 110 with sevens seconds to play.

On the other end of the floor, it was Rudy Gay who came up as the hero. Gay handled the ball on the final possession, driving to the hoop as time ticked away. With one second remaining, Serge Ibaka fouled Gay, sending him to the free throw line with a chance to send the Arco fans home happy one last time. Gay, calmly and smoothly, nailed both free throws to put the Kings ahead for the final time in the arena. The game was sealed when Westbrook’s desperation, full-court heave fell well short of its mark.

With Rajon Rondo sitting out, his backup point guard, Darren Collison, stepped up in a big way to fill the role. He scored a season-high 27 points while dishing out eight assists, leading the team in both categories. His three-pointer with 3:46 left in the fourth quarter put the Kings up 101-99, and the Thunder would be unable to jump back ahead despite tying the game on more than one occasion.

Next: Seth Curry Taking Advantage of Opportunities

After the game, players stuck around to address the crowd. Kings’ superstar DeMarcus Cousins took the microphone, saying “I love this city, and I love these fans”. Curry continued, calling the Kings’ fans the “best fans in the NBA”. The arena was still completely full as the players spoke.

This season hasn’t gone the way the Kings wanted it to, but this is definitely something that the team, and the fans, can feel good about for a little while.