After a back-and-forth battle, Game 4 between the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors came down to the final shot.
Cruising to a 10-point lead to start the fourth quarter, Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox came alive in crunch time again. The former Kentucky Wildcat guard lifted the Kings with 12 points in the fourth quarter as his backcourt mate Malik Monk added nine points down the stretch.
While Steph Curry tallied 10 points in the final frame to pace Fox and Monk, Game 4 still got tight as the clock ran down to the wire. With the Warriors’ offense cooling late, Fox buried a clutch triple to pull the Kings within a point with under 30 seconds remaining on the clock.
With the Warriors clinging to a one point lead, Harrison Barnes missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer for Sacramento to help Golden State hang on in a battle, 126-125.
On the way to tying the series 2-2, Curry led the way for Golden State with 32 points on 11-of-22 shooting from the floor with five made 3-pointers to go along with five boards and three assists. Curry, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole all registered 22 or more points in Game 4 against the Kings.
In his return from suspension, Draymond Green registered an impressive performance off the bench with 12 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and a steal and a block in 31 minutes.
Following a botched timeout call from Curry that lead to a Monk technical free throw, Fox notched a game-high 38 points on 14-of-31 shooting from the field with nine boards and five assists in 40 minutes.
Both teams will get two days off before the series heads back to Sacramento for Game 5 at Golden 1 Center on Wednesday evening.
Following the Warriors’ series-tying win, the NBA community on Twitter exploded with reactions. Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying on social media on Sunday.
This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Always thought it was wild that Sabonis was getting the MVP love on the Kings. It was always Fox
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) April 24, 2023
fox is insane man, Ws throwing everything at him and he still scores
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) April 23, 2023
'I thought it was the smartest play in the world.'
Stephen Curry on calling timeout with 42.4 secs left in Q4 – despite the Warriors already losing their final TO on a failed challenge.
Other Warriors also thought they had one more TO— Monte Poole (@MontePooleNBCS) April 23, 2023
Soon as Harrison Barnes got the ball the entire airport lounge screamed brick I kid you not 😭😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣
— Jason Maples (@JJMaples55_MST) April 23, 2023
Kerr said Draymond suggested he come off the bench. Kerr had been thinking it, Draymond confirmed the decision. Kerr called it “a collaboration.”
— Kerith Burke (@KerithBurke) April 23, 2023
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson have won 94 playoff games together, the 3rd-most by a trio in NBA postseason history.
They trail the trios of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker & Manu Ginobili (126), along with Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson & Michael Cooper (110). pic.twitter.com/EyZKbYa2oM
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 23, 2023
Warriors escape with the 126-125 win over the Kings. Series tied at 2-2. A lot of reasons Golden State pulled this one out, but Klay Thompson (a plus-22 in 39 minutes) was chief among them.
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) April 23, 2023
Harrison Barnes misses wide-open 3-ball, clock hits zeroes.
Game 4 final: Warriors 126, Kings 125— Monte Poole (@MontePooleNBCS) April 23, 2023
Draymond Green’s insane defensive versatility on display in closing minutes. They put him on De’Aaron Fox on final possession (and much of second half). He also made this play in crunch time. Stones Barnes, blocks Sabonis. pic.twitter.com/LDAJwBAA1H
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 23, 2023
salute to harrison barnes man
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) April 23, 2023
Warriors survive, 126-125. We have a 2-2 series heading back to Sacramento on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/TqrPWntHw4
— C.J. Holmes 🚀 (@CjHolmes22) April 23, 2023
Wow. Harrison Barnes misses at the buzzer and the Warriors escape with a 126-125 victory, tying the series at 2-2.
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) April 23, 2023
Harrison Barnes misses the revenge shot at the buzzer. Kings had a chance to go up 3-1 after the Steph Curry timeout gaffe. But Barnes misses, Warriors survive, setting up a three-game NorCal series. 2-2. Game 5 in Sacramento on Wednesday night.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 23, 2023
Watch Klay Thompson pic.twitter.com/Avb5pWO3xP
— Sam Hustis (@SamHustis) April 23, 2023
Warriors being 12-1 at Chase in Playoffs is crazy
— x – Alex 👋 (@Dubs408) April 24, 2023
Warriors offense the last 3mins of G4:
Turnover
Turnover
Missed Dunk
Made Floater
Missed 3
Turnover
Missed Jumper— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) April 24, 2023
I speak for everyone when I say THANK GOD for Steph’s D. pic.twitter.com/uRMVlIxXIu
— De🅿️ressed Warriors Fan 🏆 (@GoIdenState) April 24, 2023
Klay’s plus/minus for the series:
-25 — First two games
+38 — Last two gamesHe’s game high +22 today. pic.twitter.com/UaVpuhUezy
— SplashBrosMuse (@SplashBrosMuse) April 23, 2023
— Bonta Hill (@BontaHill) April 24, 2023
Steph Curry reacts to an offensive foul called on Sabonis 😳 pic.twitter.com/kHxWlVjvR6
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 23, 2023
Recap coming later tonight, but a few observations 🧵
1. Dubs left a LOT of layups on the table. Draymond and Loon in particular.
2. Draymond’s defensive presence…phew. Quick hands, quick feet, incredible mind, incredible reflexes.
3. Wiggs and Looney defended like crazy too— Vignesh Venkataraman (@Viggyfresh) April 24, 2023
Most playoff games with 30+ points & 5+ 3s made in NBA history:
1. Steph Curry: 39
2. James Harden: 17
3. Klay Thompson: 13 pic.twitter.com/9m6qi14VT1— NBA University (@NBA_University) April 23, 2023
No momentum. None. Three-game series, with two in Sacramento.
— Matt Steinmetz (@SteinmetzNBA) April 24, 2023
Steph, Poole, Klay, Wiggins, Looney: 12:03 together, +6, outscored Kings 33-27
Steph, Klay, Wiggins, Draymond, Looney: 12:50 together, +11, outscored Kings 38-27
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) April 24, 2023
There are second-half shots that are bigger than game-winners or monster shots late. Klay made all those big ones tonight.
— Matt Steinmetz (@SteinmetzNBA) April 24, 2023
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) April 24, 2023
Steph Curry
95-43 playoff record
33-9 with KD
62-34 without KDKevin Durant
98-61 playoff record
33-9 with Steph
65-52 without Steph— Candlestick Will (@CandlestickWill) April 24, 2023
#CurryBrand with another one.
In the Game 4 victory over Sacramento, @StephenCurry30 rocked a Curry 10 @eatlearnplay PE. pic.twitter.com/6xraDl5RcR
— SC30 Inc. (@SC30inc) April 23, 2023
Playoff anxiety never gets old. https://t.co/KStdkPQ03m
— Jordan Ramirez (@JRAM) April 23, 2023
Steph and Riley's handshake ❤️ pic.twitter.com/189KH9UWuJ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 23, 2023
Steph went STEPH (again). Klay continued an amazing season. JP looked healthy and ready. Sabonis got booed and Barnes showed the world yet again that he’s not clutch.
Great day. pic.twitter.com/I0h0EbsjvX
— Warriors Huddle (@WarriorsHuddle) April 23, 2023
Stephen Curry is currently the ONLY player in these Playoffs to drop at least 8 points in EVERY 4th quarter.
13, 13, 8, 10. On 62.3% TS.
Is this considered showing up? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/zEeu8tJEu4
— WarriorsMuse (@WarriorsMuse) April 23, 2023