Let's go Kings. Tonight is game five of
the first series of the NBA playoffs and
the anticipation is high. It's also crazy.
And Sunday's game four on ABC10 was the most
watched first round NBA game in 21 years.
And as we are getting ready
to light that beam tonight,
we have a question for you.
What Kings player has surprised
you the most this year?
Just scan that QR code on your screen.
Let us know what you think.
But before we get to that, I wao
get straight outside to Alicia Machado.
She is live right now with all.
Those fans waiting to get in the
Golden One Center has thousands
of people filing in for the gam.
We're about just 30 minutes
away from tip off.
How's the energy out there, Ali?
Oh my goodness Alex.
We had a huge rush of fans comig
in to get in line to get inside
Golden One Center about half an
hour ago and this has not stopp.
Take a look at how many fans
there are out here today.
Coming out here to represent the Beam team.
So much excitement today.
Fans are also getting some little free
merch right here from the Sacramento Kings.
It's these little white basketb,
just one of the many fun thingst
you can experience when you come out to.
Kings game, but this game is getting ready
to tip off in just about half an hour.
Fans coming out from near and f.
Some people I spoke with driving
more than 100 miles just to see
the the team play at Homecourt.
Now we know tonight that this ge
is highly anticipated and coming into
this we heard the news from Deed
Fox that he had a small fractur.
We spoke with fans out here about what
they think that that will mean for the game.
Take a listen.
Well, I think you know, the inj,
you know, we'll see how it goes.
You know how he plays the first
quarter and that'll be really
telling tonight how well he pla.
But, you know, I'm confident tht
he's going to play through it.
You know, it's the playoffs,
it's game five.
It's a must win for the Kings, you know.
So he's going to do all he needs
to do to take him to the victor.
Now we know that tickets are pry
expensive, so fans still have an
opportunity to come out here and enjoy the
atmosphere with other fans at Section 916.
It's an area of L Street that's blocked
off for fans to come and watch the game
for free on some jumbo televisi.
There's also food trucks out there and
I can tell you I am dying to di.
But out here, right in front of
Golden One Center, I want to tae
you guys back out here with me.
I was able to get.
One of these little Kings basketballs.
They are so fun and just anothey
to enjoy this experience and taa
little piece of the NBA Playoffs home.
But fans that I spoke without
here are confident tonight Alex,
that this team will win game five and
get a chance to continue their momentum
into the next round of the NBA Playoffs.
Alex,
awesome. Alicia, thank you so much and
I want to get over to Kevin John who is
inside the Golden One Center. K,
this is a very, very pivotal ga.
How's everyone been getting ready today?
Well, a pivotal game indeed.
You could feel the energy of everyone.
Thousands of people are coming in right now.
We are less than 30 minutes away from
tip off from this pivotal game e
between the Kings and the Warriors and
I'm actually going to bring some
over here who is Sacramento prod
none other the Sacramento Mayor,
Darrell Steinberg.
So Mayor Steinberg,
just to see the excitement aroud
Sacramento and this Kings team,
what does this mean to
you? Yeah, it means everything to me.
It means everything to my city.
You know, in part because we've waited
so long and the fans and the ciy
have been so passionate and loyal and
the Kings have been such a big .
And we almost lost the Kings, of course,
10 years ago. That to be here 2.
Two against the defending champs, Game 5.
Here in the Golden One Center,
in the heart of our downtown,
there's no other place I could be tonight.
It's great.
And whether you're here or watching on
television or listening on on the radio,
it's a big night for Sacramentou
know, you mentioned how the Kins
almost lost or Sacramento almost
lost the Kings several years ba.
A lot has been said about the f,
the loyalty of the Kings throughout the
17 long years of this playoff t.
A lot has been said that these
are the loudest and most loyal
fans and the whole NBA.
Can you speak to
that? There is no question abou.
Through thick and through thin.
Look, I was back there in New York City
10 years ago when the NBA had to make
a decision whether the Kings would go
to Seattle or they would stay h.
And there are many reasons why
they said yes to Sacramento.
But I will tell you this,
it would have not happened if the Kings,
if Sacramento did not have a reputation.
For the most loyal,
the most boisterous,
the most committed fans in the
entire country.
That's why we're here tonight.
Now
see you sport New Jersey do you
have a favorite player on the
Kings or you like them all?
I love them all. I mean,
how can you not love Darren Fox
and I love Sabonis And you knowe
got a great team. It's no longe.
Well, God, wouldn't it be great.
We had this piece that we've
got a great team and we're up
against the Champs Curry and.
And Clay, But I like the fact
we have homecourt advantage.
That's why, you know,
coming in 3rd in the West makes a difference.
The Warriors were six.
I think we're going to win this series
and I think it starts tonight. u
heard it. Mayor Steinberg said.
They're going to win the series.
Mayor, I saw you dancing and
cutting a rug about 20 minutes .
I'm gonna put you on the spot.
Do you have any moves for us no?
You know, I I
have no moves. I except for thi.
I'm just excited. I mean,
you got to dance. You got to move, you got
to be happy. You got to smile.
This is a great night. There we.
Oh, let's go, go kings.
There you go. He's a dancing ma.
Mayor Steinberg, right here.
This energy is infectious. Well.
I don't know how else to follow that up,
but I'll send it back to you Al.
I have much more tonight from day five
at 11:00 o'clock at ABC day.
Kevin, I expect to see
you dancing tonight too.
Alright, thank you so much.
And Devin Trophy is in downtown
where fans also dancing,
rallying at the 916 Zone to
support the Kings.
How are things looking out there, Devin?
Alex The 916 zone starting to fill up,
the Jumbotrons are on and
the line to get in the zone.
It stretches all the way out into the
intersection on El Street right.
But fans are really looking
for those shady spots.
Those are going first,
and we're here with some longtime King fans.
Tell me it's a clean slate.
How do you like our odds for tonight?
Oh, we have great odds.
We're at home about the win this game.
Probably go to Golden State,
Let them get the win so we can e
back home and cheer with the ga.
7V fans would rather win it at home for sure.
We've got some younger King spam here.
What's been your favorite part so far, guys?
Alright, Alex and I gotta take you over here.
We got a friend group that is divided.
We're gonna give it to our Warrior fan first.
How confident are you feeling tonight?
I'm feeling very confident. It'.
It's a three-game series now, you know.
We get a fresh start,
get that new opportunity to attk
and hopefully still homecourt f.
And we're wrapping some Deer and Fox jerseys.
How confident are you feeling at
your man's performance tonight?
I think Deer will realize how hw
important this game is for the Kings,
not only for the team,
but for the fans.
And even if Deer and isn't 100%,
I think Davion will come in,
Davion will help him out.
He'll keep, he'll keep those
point guard minutes in and.
Thank you. There's some expert
analysis there from our superfa,
Alex, the 916 Zone,
alive and well and starting to t
up hopefully like our Sacramento
Kings tonight. Alex,
awesome, Devin, thank you so mu.