Sacramento Kings' 16-season playoff drought comes to an end

>> BREAKING NEWS A LIVE LOOK AT THE GOLDEN ONE CENTER, HOME OF THE SACRAMENTO KINGS. YOU CAN SEE THE BEAM IS LIT UP TONIGHT. AND TONIGHT, THE KINGS HAVE CLINCHED THEIR SPOT IN THE PLAYOFFS BREAKING A 16-SEASON DROUGHT. THE KINGS DOMINATED THE TRAIL BLAZERS ON THE ROAD IN PORTLAND WINNING 120 TO 80. PLUS, KEEGAN MURRAY SET AN NBA ROOKIE THREE POINT RECORD TONIGHT. IT’S BEEN A BIG CELEBRATION FOR KINGS FANS. WITH MANY IN DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO TONIGHT. >> KCRA 3’S ORKO MANNA HAS BEEN SPEAKING TO FANS AND IS LIVE NOW OUTSIDE THE GOLDEN ONE CENTER. ORKO, HOW’S IT LOOKING? >> NOW. AR CHANTING. YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE KINGS FANS WEARING THEIR PURPLE, CELEBRATING THE VICTORY OVER THE TRAIL BLAZERS. THIS IS A SMALL SAMPLE OF THE PEOPLE WE’VE BEEN TALKING TO TONIGHT. YOU CAN SEE THE FLAGS. EVERYONE IS SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS 16 YEAR DROUGHT. FINALLY ENDING -- DROUGHT FINALLY ENDING. YOU CAN SEE THIS BAND HAS HIS FLAG. THEY ARE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE PLAYOFFS AGAIN. WE SPOKE TO SOME FANS WHEN THE KINGS FINALLY CLENCHED THAT SPOT EARLIER TONIGHT. >> LIGHT THE BEAM. >> PLAYOFFS BABY. >> THIS IS THE GREATEST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO SACRAMENTO AND SACKED -- IN 16 YEARS SO IT’S A GREAT FEELING FOR THE CITY. MIKE BROWN IS THE GOAT. IT WAS GREAT. VERY EXCITED. THEY EARNED IT. THEY FOUGHT HARD THIS YEAR. THE FANS SHOWED UP AND LIGHT THE BEAM BABY. >> I’M CRYING A LITTLE BIT. I’VE BEEN A DIEHARD KINGS FAN ALL MY LIFE AND WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR A LONG TIME. IT’S BEEN 16 YEARS. IT FEELS GOOD. >> PLAYOFFS. PLAYOFFS. >> EMOTIONAL, EXCITING. EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE TONIGHT. THE KINGS HAVE CLINCHED THE PLAYOFFS. EVERYONE WEARING GEAR IN FRONT OF THE GOLDEN ONE CENTER. FOR KINGS FANS, TAKE A LOOK AT THESE PEOPLE. TAKE A LISTEN TO THEM. THIS IS SUCH AN EXCITING NIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO SEND IT BACK TO YOU. >> THE PARTY GOES ON. THANKS A LOT. WE WILL TRY TO CHECK BACK WITH YOU LATER TODAY, TONIGHT. BE SURE TO TUNE INTO OUR KINGS COVERAGE IN OUR NEXT HALF HOUR WITH SPORTS DIRECTOR DEL RODGERS LIVE IN PORTLAND

The Sacramento Kings ended their 17-year playoff drought Wednesday night and secured a spot in the postseason after beating the Portland Trail Blazers.The Kings won 120-80.The Kings have held the longest playoff drought of any team in U.S. major professional sports. The last time they secured a playoff berth was during the 2005-2006 season.This week has been a nail-biter for Kings fans as they have been for an official playoff clinch from the team.Monday night seemed like the perfect opportunity for the Kings to celebrate a city-wide playoff party during their home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the visitor team stole that from them with a 119-115 defeat.| MORE | Everything that was different the last time the Kings made the playoffs De'Aaron Fox scored 18 points Wednesday night. Kevin Huerter added 17 points in the win, which also earned the Kings home-court advantage to open the postseason.Kings rookie Keegan Murray made his 188th 3-pointer of the season with 6:44 to go in the third quarter to set the NBA record, passing Donovan Mitchell's mark of 187 set in 2017-18. Murray, who flashed an understated grin after the shot fell, finished with 13 points.The Kings sit at third in the Western Conference. The first-place Denver Nuggets and the Memphis Grizzlies, who sit three games back, have already clinched.Sacramento could have sealed up the playoff spot earlier in the night, but the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 141-132.Rookie Shaedon Sharpe had 30 points for the Blazers, who have lost four straight and 10 of their last 11 games. The loss to the Kings eliminated Portland from the playoffs.The Associated Press contributed to this story.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

The Sacramento Kings ended their 17-year playoff drought Wednesday night and secured a spot in the postseason after beating the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Kings won 120-80.

The Kings have held the longest playoff drought of any team in U.S. major professional sports. The last time they secured a playoff berth was during the 2005-2006 season.

This week has been a nail-biter for Kings fans as they have been for an official playoff clinch from the team.

Monday night seemed like the perfect opportunity for the Kings to celebrate a city-wide playoff party during their home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the visitor team stole that from them with a 119-115 defeat.

#SacramentoProud @SacramentoKings #LightTheBeam #playoffs pic.twitter.com/h21QaOLO5u
— @Darrell_Steinberg (@Mayor_Steinberg) March 30, 2023

| MORE | Everything that was different the last time the Kings made the playoffs

De'Aaron Fox scored 18 points Wednesday night. Kevin Huerter added 17 points in the win, which also earned the Kings home-court advantage to open the postseason.

Kings rookie Keegan Murray made his 188th 3-pointer of the season with 6:44 to go in the third quarter to set the NBA record, passing Donovan Mitchell's mark of 187 set in 2017-18. Murray, who flashed an understated grin after the shot fell, finished with 13 points.

The Kings sit at third in the Western Conference. The first-place Denver Nuggets and the Memphis Grizzlies, who sit three games back, have already clinched.

Sacramento could have sealed up the playoff spot earlier in the night, but the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 141-132.

Rookie Shaedon Sharpe had 30 points for the Blazers, who have lost four straight and 10 of their last 11 games. The loss to the Kings eliminated Portland from the playoffs.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Sacramento Kings' 16-season playoff drought comes to an end

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