The Sacramento Kings have one small but meaningful goal left in the regular season: finish strong over their final five games. After beating the Toronto Raptors to close a five-game road trip, Sacramento avoided a sweep and reached the 20-win mark, a modest milestone in a season that has already shifted toward the offseason.
The Kings are not tanking, and the recent results suggest they are still trying to compete while also living with the reality of a difficult schedule. They have gone 6-7 over their last 13 games, and the final stretch includes two matchups with the Golden State Warriors, a meeting with the LA Clippers, a home game against the New Orleans Pelicans, and a season finale against the Portland Trail Blazers.
What the last five games mean
Sacramento’s closing stretch matters for more than the win-loss column. A few results could affect draft position, Western Conference seeding for opponents, and the tone around a roster that has spent much of the year searching for consistency.
The Kings also know that momentum can matter heading into the offseason. Even if the standings barely move, a stronger finish would give the organization a clearer feel for which players handled pressure well and which lineups had the most balance.
Game-by-game outlook
| Game | Opponent | Key context | Predicted result |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2 | New Orleans Pelicans | Pelicans are on a five-game losing streak and already out of playoff contention | Kings win |
| April 5 | LA Clippers | Clippers are fighting to avoid slipping to ninth in the West | Kings loss |
| April 7 | at Golden State Warriors | Stephen Curry is expected back, making Golden State tougher | Kings loss |
| April 10 | vs. Golden State Warriors | Short turnaround, same matchup, same tough test | Kings loss |
| April 12 | at Portland Trail Blazers | Portland has won all three meetings this season | Kings loss |
Why Sacramento could open with a win
The most favorable spot on the schedule appears to be the home game against New Orleans. The Pelicans have already been eliminated from contention and have lost five straight, which lowers the urgency level for a team that no longer has much to play for.
Sacramento still has to show up and execute, but this is the one game in the stretch where the Kings may have the clearest edge. The Pelicans also beat the Kings twice earlier in the season by a combined 36 points, so Sacramento would have extra motivation to avoid another season series sweep.
The Clippers and Warriors present a tougher path
The Clippers bring a very different challenge because they still have something at stake in the Western Conference race. Sacramento already pulled off an upset against LA once, but repeating that result looks harder when the Clippers are trying to protect their position.
Golden State also creates problems for Sacramento because Steph Curry is expected to be back by then. A healthy, or even semi-healthy, Warriors group changes the matchup quickly, and the Kings have already split the season series with them.
That said, both games could still be competitive if Sacramento defends well and gets efficient scoring from its top rotation players. The Kings have already shown they can surprise stronger opponents, but the margin for error narrows sharply against teams still chasing playoff goals.
The Portland finale may depend on motivation
The season-ending matchup in Portland could become strange if either side already knows its destiny. If the Blazers lock in their play-in position early, or if Sacramento settles into lottery placement, both teams could choose to rest veterans.
Even so, Portland has controlled the season series so far and has won all three meetings against Sacramento. The Kings have kept those games close, with the largest loss coming by seven points, but the matchup still favors the Blazers on paper.
Doug Christie has gotten Sacramento to compete at times during a difficult season, and that could keep the games closer than expected. But the schedule still points to a finish that reflects a team stuck between development, draft positioning, and the simple challenge of beating stronger opponents late in the year.
Projected finish: 1-4 over the final five
- April 2 vs. New Orleans Pelicans — Win
- April 5 vs. LA Clippers — Loss
- April 7 at Golden State Warriors — Loss
- April 10 vs. Golden State Warriors — Loss
- April 12 at Portland Trail Blazers — Loss
A 1-4 finish would fit the shape of Sacramento’s season and reflect how difficult the final stretch has become. The Kings may still produce a surprise or two, but the most likely outcome is a competitive ending that leaves them looking ahead to the offseason and whatever direction comes next.
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