After 16 years without a postseason appearance – the longest drought in NBA history – Sacramento Kings fans can't wait to watch their team compete in the playoffs again.
There's a ton of excitement surrounding the Kings' first-round matchup against the Golden State Warriors, and the ticket prices reflect this.
According to TickPick, tickets for Game 1 of Kings-Warriors are selling for an average of $668, which is the most expensive first-round game on record. In fact, it's the most expensive non-Finals game on record.
The average price for a Game 1 ticket is 603% more expensive than the average ticket price for a Kings' home game this past season ($95). One fan purchased two Game 1 tickets in Section 118, Row F for $1,248 each (or $2,496 total).
Below is the average purchase price of each Kings-Warriors game (as of April 13). Notice that the games in Sacramento cost significantly more:
Game 1 | $668 |
Game 2 | $480 |
Game 3 | $339 |
Game 4 | $327 |
Game 5 | $486 |
Game 6 | $334 |
Game 1 between the Kings and Warriors tips off on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET at Golden 1 Center. For those who would prefer to watch from home, the game will be broadcast on ABC.
Sacramento is the third seed in the Western Conference, with a 48-34 record. The Kings boast the league's top-ranked offense, scoring an NBA-record 117 points per 100 possessions. However, they rank No. 25 in defense, allowing 114.2 points per 100 possessions.
Golden State is the sixth seed in the Western Conference, with a 44-38 record. The defending-champion Warriors boast the NBA's ninth-ranked offense (scoring 113.5 points per 100 possessions) and 17th-ranked defense (allowing 111.7 points per 100 possessions).