Sacramento claimed a huge upset over a Clippers team contending for the playoffs. But fans were left conflicted as the Kings pursue a high draft pick.
The Sacramento Kings sparked mixed feelings from their fanbase late Saturday evening.
Sacramento held on for the win over a Los Angeles Clippers team vying for a playoff spot 118-109. But the Kings are in a different position.
Fans and analysts believe the Kings will land the top pick of the 2026 NBA Draft. Calls for the Kings to select AJ Dybantsa of BYU continue to grow. Others hope for Cameron Boozer of Duke, who led his team to the Atlantic Coast Conference title on Saturday.
But here's what the Saturday victory also did for Sacramento: Potentially ruin their chances at landing the top pick.
The fans chimed in to share their conflicting emotions about the victory. Especially with Precious Achiuwa going off for 25 points.
"Precious Achiuwa- Professional Executioner of Tanks," one fan posted on the social media website X, formerly known as Twitter.
Allen Stiles of Sactown 1140 AM was more blunt, however.
"Let's just keep it 1000, the Kings did not go into the season trying to tank. So they ended up with too many vets to tank," Stiles posted. "It seems like they’re willing to live with what the basketball gods give them because they didn’t expect to be in this situation anyway."
Matt George of Sactown 1140 was equally honest.
"That's a pretty terrible loss for the Clippers. And not a great win for the Kings," George began on X.
Yet he praised the play of Maxime Raynaud and Achiuwa alongside Russell Westbrook and Nique Clifford.
"Max played amazing. So did Precious. Russ triple-double and Nique hit some big shots. So a lot of good from this one too," George said.
One last fan urged the Kings to play Domantas Sabonis, Malik Monk and Zach LaVine despite their injuries -- but to help reignite the Kings' tanking efforts.
Sacramento entered as a massive 13.5-point underdog against a Clippers team coming off their back-to-back. But pull off one of its best upsets of the season...much to the chagrin of certain fans.
DeRozan led with 27 points, Raynaud scored 23 while Westbrook scored 12. Clifford dropped 11 points. Daeqwon Plowden added 15 points off the bench.
Sacramento at 17-51 no longer holds the league's worst record. The Indiana Pacers now have that title with their 15-52 record.
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