A Royal Pain
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Sacramento Kings Playoff Update: Nearing the end, but not there yet

By Jonathan Roberts

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 12: Buddy Hield #24 and De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings talk during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on January 12, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 12: Buddy Hield #24 and De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings talk during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on January 12, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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It’s the end of March and the Sacramento Kings have not yet been eliminated from the playoffs; what a time to be alive.

That’s right, the Sacramento Kings still have a mathematical chance at making the NBA playoffs, though it’s not very likely.

As of today, March 28, the Kings are 37-37 — their best record in over a decade — but are 5.5 games behind the San Antonio Spurs; 6.5 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and an insurmountable seven games behind the Utah Jazz, with eight games to play. So while it’s still possible, it’s incredibly unlikely — though I will not let go of the rope until I am forced to, as I’ve said on Twitter (@ARoyalPain) all month.

The end is near, however, as the Utah Jazz’s magic number has dropped to just 1, while the Spurs and Thunder both have a magic number of 2. That means, for the Jazz, either a Sacramento Kings loss or a Jazz win would put them in the playoffs. For the Spurs and Thunder, two wins, two Kings losses or one of each would send them to the playoffs.

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The Thunder have hit a rough patch as of late, which gave Kings fans a slight glimmer of hope, but they’ve stabled themselves and have gone 2-2 in their last four games. They’re 4-6 over their last 10 though. The Spurs and Jazz, meanwhile, have each gone 7-3 over their last 10, but the Spurs have also stumbled as of late, going just 1-3 over their past four games.

This could (theoretically) give the Sacramento Kings an opening at the eighth seed, but they’re just 5-5 over their last 10, and 3-2 in their last five. They’ve been perfectly .500 for most of the month, despite having multiple opportunities to grab some much-needed wins, especially in games against the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets last week.

Speaking of schedules, the Kings will close the year on a fairly difficult slate of games, with five of their last eight games coming against current Western Conference playoff teams. Two of those games come against the Jazz and Spurs, though the Jazz will likely have clinched before their clash on April 5.

The Spurs though, play the Kings this Sunday. San Antonio only plays one game between now and then, and it’s against the Cleveland Cavaliers at home. Sacramento has two, against the New Orleans Pelicans and Houston Rockets. As unlikely as it is, if the Kings can go 2-0 in those games and top the Spurs on Sunday, they could stay alive for another week, providing more opportunities for a team above them to slip.

Let’s be clear, however: I do not think this happens. I think that, by the end of the week, the Sacramento Kings will be eliminated from playoff contention. Right now, the current goal should be to finish the season above .500, something the Kings haven’t done since the 2005-06 season. Coincidentally, that was also the last time they made the playoffs, though they lost first round to none other than the San Antonio Spurs.

Grading the Kings’ deadline moves, one month later. dark. Next

Playoffs have been a possibility this season for the first time in over 10 years. And, as sad as it is, this have been one of the most incredible seasons for the Sacramento Kings since the early 2000’s. Once the Kings faltered around late February and early March, we knew it wouldn’t be long, but they’ve held on just enough, giving us one incredible year in the process. It likely comes to an end this week, but this season has been a resounding success regardless.

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