After a 16-year hiatus, it was only right that the Sacramento Kings punched their own ticket back into the NBA playoffs.
The Kings had been eligible to qualify for the playoffs since Saturday but came shy of getting the needed wins from themselves and other teams entering Wednesday. However, the Kings could clinch a playoff spot Wednesday with a road win against the Portland Trail Blazers, a Minnesota Timberwolves road loss against the Phoenix Suns or a LA Clippers road loss against the Memphis Grizzlies. After the Clippers won, Sacramento clinched its first playoff berth since the 2005-06 season by beating the Blazers 120-80 before the Wolves game came to a conclusion.