Kings playoff countdown: How Sacramento can win Pacific Division and clinch No. 3 seed
The Kings have already clinched an NBA playoff berth and homecourt advantage in the first round, but they are still one win away from securing the Pacific Division championship following Sunday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Kings will have another chance to win the Pacific when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday at Smoothie King Center. They can win the division and secure no less than the No. 3 seed with one more victory or one loss by the Phoenix Suns.
The Kings (47-31) are third in the West, two games behind the No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies and four games ahead of the No. 4 Suns. The Kings are going to the playoffs for the first time since 2006, ending the longest playoff drought in NBA history.
The Kings will visit the Pelicans on Tuesday and the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday before returning to Sacramento to face the Golden State Warriors on Friday in a potential first-round playoff preview. The Kings will conclude the regular season on the road against the top-seeded Denver Nuggets on April 9.
Current seed: No. 3
The Kings are third in the West, two games behind the No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies and four games ahead of the No. 4 Phoenix Suns with four games remaining. The Kings will clinch the No. 3 seed and the Pacific Division championship with one more win or one more loss by the Suns.
First-round matchup: Golden State Warriors
If the playoffs started today, the Kings would play the No. 6 seed, the Warriors, in the first round. The Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans are other potential first-round opponents. Those four teams are separated by a half-game entering the final week of the regular season.
Homecourt advantage: Yes.
The Kings have clinched homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs, which begin April 15. They will play Game 1 of their first-round series at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. The seven-game series will have a 2-2-1-1-1 format with the first two games being played in Sacramento, the next two games being played on the road and alternating sites for the last three games.
Tickets: Are they available?
Tickets for Game 1 of Sacramento’s first-round playoff series haven’t officially gone on sale yet. However, StubHub, a ticket exchange and resale company, has tickets listed for sale with prices ranging from $360 for standing room only to $5,000 for the lower bowl. The Kings say purchasing a 2023-24 season ticket membership is the best way to get priority access to home playoff games. The Kings are also offering fans a chance to sign up for presale access through a free subscription to Kings Insider emails.
