A mere 86 miles separates the home arenas of the Warriors and Kings, dividing NBA allegiances in Northern California.
But while Golden State stacked up four championships in the past eight seasons, Sacramento was enduring a miserable 16-season playoff drought. Still, both teams boast a legion of proud fans, and the region’s lone remaining NFL team tried to play both sides of the rivalry in advance of Game 1 of the Warriors-Kings playoff series on Saturday.
Indeed, the 49ers invited scorn from both NBA fan bases by failing to get off the fence and pick a side in the first-round series.
Best of luck in the playoffs @warriors and @SacramentoKings! 🏀 pic.twitter.com/ngIgR0ZtOv
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) April 15, 2023
Fans from both sides of the Warriors-Kings rivalry weren’t having it.
Here are some of the most humorous reactions:
Pick a team pic.twitter.com/TxV7vVbAsS
— Kevin Ghiringhelli (@keghiringhelli) April 15, 2023
— P - Kevin Mai - Reikaze (@RockmanDash12) April 15, 2023
Need a map, Niners?
— It’s A Great Time Out! (@AGreatTimeOut) April 15, 2023
Sacramento ain’t in the bay whatchall doin ?
— Cranklin Saint (@RealPKSasski351) April 15, 2023
San Francisco 49ers
— matt ashlock (@matt_ashlock) April 15, 2023
Warriors play in San Francisco
They are “the Bay’s team”
49ers claim to be “Faithful to The Bay”
🤔🤔🤔
niners plz be serious
— Rocco’s Stepmom (@MariesaStevens) April 15, 2023
— andy moore (@pastorandymoore) April 16, 2023
Yayyy area 🎶
— Shelly Legit (@ShellyLegit) April 15, 2023
On the court, the Kings struck first, earning a hard-fought 126-123 victory in Game 1 on Saturday night as Warriors star Stephen Curry missed a potential tying three-point shot at the buzzer. Game 2 is set for Monday at 10 p.m. ET in Sacramento.
