2024 Sacramento Kings playoffs picture following win vs Utah Jazz (March 31): Updated standings, schedule and more

On Sunday, the Sacramento Kings completed a season sweep over the Utah Jazz with a dominant 127-106 victory. Despite a competitive first half, the Kings took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Jazz 39-25. Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, and De’Aaron Fox led the way for the Kings with a combined 73 points.

The win pushed Sacramento’s record to 43-31 following consecutive losses to the Dallas Mavericks that were hard to swallow. Mike Brown’s squad will wrap up a five-game stretch at home with what is anticipated to be another back-and-forth showdown against the LA Clippers on Tuesday.

The Sacramento Kings have a tough final stretch against top teams

The Kings will kick off a challenging series of games against a formidable lineup of teams, starting with the LA Clippers led by Kawhi Leonard. They will also face the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and OKC Thunder on the road before wrapping up the regular season with home games against the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns.

Despite being favored to win against the Brooklyn Nets and Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento will also have to face off against teams who are looking to play the role of spoilers. De’Aaron Fox and his teammates cannot afford to underestimate these opponents. With multiple crucial matchups before the halfway point of April, the Kings must be prepared for potential game-changing outcomes.

The Sacramento Kings’ Potential Playoff Position: Fourth Place or Out of the Play-In Tournament?

The Sacramento Kings, currently with a record of 43-31, are only two games behind the New Orleans Pelicans (45-29) in the standings for the sixth spot and final guaranteed playoff spot. Their main goal is to secure the fourth spot, currently held by the LA Clippers (47-27), which would give them home court advantage in the first round. To achieve this, the Kings will need the Clippers to struggle and for the fifth-ranked Dallas Mavericks (45-29) to have some missteps.

If Sacramento were to experience a meltdown, they would likely fall to the same level as the struggling LA Lakers (42-33) and Golden State Warriors (40-34). There is even a possibility that they could unexpectedly miss the play-in tournament, as the currently 11th-ranked Houston Rockets (38-36) are still within mathematical reach of catching up to them.

After the victory over the Jazz, Mike Brown assured reporters that the Sacramento Kings are not concerned with the performances of other teams. He emphasized that their sole focus will be on their own performance in the remaining games.

The Kings are hesitant to participate in the risky and complex play-in tournament, but they remain prepared to face it if needed. Ideally, they would like to begin the playoffs in front of their enthusiastic and energetic home crowd.