The Golden State Warriors played against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night in a pivotal late-season matchup. While the Kings have already clinched their playoff spot and are likely to finish as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, the game was critical for the defending champions. The only way for the Warriors to avoid the play-in tournament is by winning both their final two games. They currently sit in sixth place in the West and need to finish in the top six to avoid the tournament. Warriors coach Steve Kerr emphasized the importance of not letting their guard down and the necessity of winning both their final games. The Kings rested their top three scorers, which some believe could indicate that they are not taking the game seriously. Nevertheless, both teams have a chance of meeting again in the first round of the playoffs, which would be the first time for both to make the playoffs in the same season. The game ended with the Warriors winning 120-108, putting them in a stronger position to make the playoffs without the play-in tournament.