The Sacramento Kings officially made their return to the NBA playoffs Saturday and fans swarmed downtown to show their support as the team beat the Golden State Warriors 126-123.
Fans assembled downtown hours before tip-off, including a watch party on L Street outside the arena in addition to the 18,253 inside. It was an emotional night for many as the game went down to the final shot, with Golden State missing a 3-pointer as time expired, sealing the win for the Kings.
"When you're able to share a moment like this with everybody in your city, it literally means everything," Kings fan Zach Hurd, 21, said. "It's a dream come true just to see my team be in the playoffs because it's literally been my whole entire lifetime."
Saturday marked the first playoff game for the Kings since 2006, breaking an NBA-record 16-year drought. The team's last playoff game — and last one at home — was against the San Antonio Spurs at ARCO Arena on May 5, 2006.
Game two in the best-of-seven series against the Warriors is Monday at the Golden 1 Center. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
CapRadio Visual Journalist Andrew Nixon documented the evening outside Golden 1 Center.
Fans gather outside the Golden 1 Center on Saturday, April 15, 2023 to watch the first Kings playoff game in 16 seasons on a screen over L Street in Downtown Sacramento, Calif.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Fans gather outside the Golden 1 Center on Saturday, April 15, 2023 to watch the first Kings playoff game in 16 seasons on a screen over L Street in Downtown Sacramento, Calif.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Fans gather outside the Golden 1 Center on Saturday, April 15, 2023 to watch the first Kings playoff game in 16 seasons on a screen over L Street in Downtown Sacramento, Calif.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Sacramento resident Donovan Smith reacts to a three-point shot by the Kings during a playoff game with the Golden State Warriors on April 15, 2023.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
A fan shows off a Kings Tattoo outside the Golden 1 Center on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in downtown Sacramento, Calif.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Fans react to the Kings' win over the Golden State Warriors outside the Golden 1 Center on Saturday, April 15, 2023 to watch the first Kings playoff game in 16 seasons on a screen over L Street in Downtown Sacramento, Calif.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
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