Warriors and Curry gear up for pivotal in-season tournament clash with Kings

Curry, Warriors recognize big In-Season Tournament game vs. Kings originally appeared on
NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry is gearing up for the Golden State Warriors’ most high-stakes game of the season.

Following their impressive 118-112 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, the Warriors have successfully avoided NBA In-Season Tournament elimination. Now, their next challenge is against the Sacramento Kings in a pivotal tournament game slated for Tuesday at Golden 1 Center.

Addressing the press after the game, Curry underscored the significance of Tuesday’s match and stressed the importance of the Warriors’ strong start against the Kings.

“It’s a big game; you can sense the energy of an In-Season Tournament game due to its implications,” Curry stated. “The court feels like one from a playoff game, and we understand that we have to win to stay in the competition. It’s crucial to approach it with that mindset. We’re familiar with the atmosphere and must be prepared to go all out from the start. They’ve been performing well lately, especially since [De’Aaron Fox] returned, and we know they secured a victory tonight, so this is a significant game.”

Notably, Tuesday’s game is the 11th regular- or postseason meeting between the Warriors and Kings since April 7 of last season.

While some consider the Warriors-Kings rivalry one of the NBA’s most compelling, Curry previously stated that he was not ready to label the Kings a rival. “I’m going to have to check with the committee that actually defines what ‘rivals’ actually means,” he joked. “It’s kind of what everyone wants it to be. I love the narrative around the back-and-forth, we’ve played them so many times over the last couple of years. Whatever you call it, it’s fun basketball, it’s entertaining.”

Despite the ambiguity surrounding the Warriors’ history with Sacramento, Tuesday’s game promises to be another intense matchup with the Kings.

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