NBA Rumors: Sacramento Kings Not Tanking As Play-In Odds Still Alive

The Sacramento Kings just won't quit.

Even after losing Tyrese Haliburton, the Kings have just won their fourth game in a row on Wednesday after beating Indiana, 104-93.

Not only did they win without the sensational rookie, but the depleted Kings were also reeling from the absences of De'Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes when they handled business with the Pacers.

Partly due to the NBA's play-in format, grit can be seen as the Kings are showing how determined they are to make a last-second playoff push.

Currently 12th in the Western Conference with a 29-37 slate, the consecutive victories have enabled Sacramento to cut the distance between them and the 11th-ranked New Orleans Pelicans to one game back and the 10th-seeded San Antonio Spurs to two-and-a-half games back.

The Spurs have been struggling as of late, dropping their last five matches and being on the verge of losing a play-in spot.

The Kings and Spurs meet on Friday in a critical match-up.

Forward Marvin Bagley III said just signified the Kings will not stop just yet.

"I’m definitely excited about what we’re doing. Now we’ve got to continue to keep this thing rolling," Bagley said after scoring 31 points against the Pacers, per Sacramento Bee.

"We’re doing a hell of a job. We’re playing together. We’re playing with passion. We’re talking, communicating. Everybody’s on the same page, man. It feels great to come out here—we had a four-game road trip, went 4-0."

Viewed as a Rookie of the Year candidate, Haliburton was diagnosed with a left knee hyperextension last Sunday versus Dallas, abruptly putting an end to an impressive first year as a pro.

But the Kings didn't fold even after that untimely development. Their four-game winning streak is currently tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for the second-best run in the league, only behind the Philadelphia 76ers' six-game winning run.

Second-year head coach Luke Walton spoke highly of the Kings' defense, which limited opponents to below 100 points throughout the winning run.

"We’re struggling to score the way we have most of the season, I think, mainly due to not having Fox, Tyrese and Harrison out there," Walton remarked. "But the defense these last few games has just been outstanding from the way we’re competing and covering for each other, and the key is to combine the two."

What the Kings have accomplished is already awe-inspiring, considering their 14-year playoff drought that has been widely discredited due to dysfunction.

Refusing to shut it down in spite of the odds as the regular season reaches its end is a promising sign of progress for the franchise in the years to come.