NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: WARRIORS vs KINGS

April 23, 2023

Domantas Sabonis

Media Conference

Golden State Warriors 126, Sacramento Kings 125

Q. Start by asking general thoughts and reaction to how this one went.

DOMANTAS SABONIS: Definitely more aggressive on both ends. Last five minutes of that game in the fourth quarter we made offensive and defensive silly mistakes that a team like that is going to make us pay.

Q. Mike just said that this team has to stop begging for foul calls. Do you feel like the officiating has been differently in these last couple of games? How do you adjust to that and do you feel like you guys are looking for the calls a little bit too much?

DOMANTAS SABONIS: Yeah, we can't waste time complaining to the refs. We've got to get back. They are a fast team just like us so they are going to go and get it up so we can't have that one, two second engaging with a ref instead of helping other teammates.

Q. Mentally and emotionally where is this team right now after that game and what's the mindset have to be going into Game 5?

DOMANTAS SABONIS: We are go. Obviously it's not the outcome we wanted but we are going home and we have to take care of business there. It's a long series.

Q. With them showing you a lot of single coverage, what's the balance between making plays for others and getting your own?

DOMANTAS SABONIS: Yeah, every game I just have to figure out when to be aggressive and when to shoot and when to run the play all the way. That's something I'm dealing with and my teammates have my back.

Q. I'm sure you hear the fans booing you every time you touch the ball. Some guys say they can block it out, and some say that it motivate them. How have you reacted to that?

DOMANTAS SABONIS: Just block it out to be honest. We are on the road. It's expected. They have got a great fan base. Just got to play through.

Q. You ride Keegan sometimes in the game and off the court but you're always teaching him. What were you saying to him and encouraging? Tonight he came out firing?

DOMANTAS SABONIS: I was telling him, just get open. Like there's no way you can't get open. He was running away and falling in for the top block. I'm just like, give yourself a chance to get open and make the play. You didn't have to shoot it all the time. I felt like he got the ball early, curled, attacked, got himself into the game making assists. I feel like that always helps and it definitely helped today.

Q. The officiating, it did look physical down low, and looked like you didn't get any calls at all; are you surprised?

DOMANTAS SABONIS: Definitely not. We knew it when we came over here with the noise and stuff; just play through, and we know we are not going to get calls. You can't afford to waste times engaging with the refs. You have to move on to the next play.

Q. HB has been in this position before and I'm sure that was a shot he really wanted. How do you guys as teammates lift him after a game like this knowing what this game probably would have meant to you guys in the playoffs and him personally?

DOMANTAS SABONIS: Yeah, you know obviously it would have been big if he knocked that down for the team and for him but we trust him with that shot every day. That's his spot and we couldn't get a more open look. We've got to prepare for Game 5.

Q. What are your thoughts on the way De'Aaron is playing and the way he's kind of shining upon this stage?

DOMANTAS SABONIS: It's nothing -- we all expected, you guys asked me before the playoffs what he's doing and he showed that even more. He's going out there, offense, defense, and doing everything for us. The more we can help him the better.

Q. Big picture, four games in, looking at the entire series, this is that part in a seven-game series where each team knows so much more about the other side and confidence-wise, how do you see this matchup and where is your guys psyche heading into Game 5?

DOMANTAS SABONIS: I think it's good. Locker room is good. Confidence isn't down. If anything, if we would have knocked that shot down or not made mistakes at the end of the game it, would have been a different outcome but we made these mistakes and they are champions and they are going to make you pay. We just have to learn from them and not let them occur again.