Apr 17, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings fans hold up a sign during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Sleep Train Arena. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Sacramento Kings 112-108. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

EDITORS NOTE: Occasionally when big NBA news breaks (like this or the Jason Collins story) I’ll post something on Fully Clips because I feel like something THIS big should be discussed on all sites.

Today’s been a great day for basketball fans across the globe. First the heroic deed by center Jason Collins becoming the first active homosexual NBA player. Now the Sacramento Kings are keeping their team.

RT @nbapr: NBA Relocation Committee unanimously recommends that the Board of Governors deny Kings’ request to relocate.

— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2013

You have to be legitimately happy for this franchise. I can’t imagine the stress they’ve gone through over the past few months not knowing whether their franchise would remain in the city, but they done it. Unanimously is the biggest surprise. At the beginning I wasn’t sure if the Kings were gonna get it done, but from the announced moment that the Maloof’s were considering selling to the city of Seattle this city, led by former NBA player Mayor Kevin Johnson, put forth all the effort they could in retaining the team. And they’ve done it.

In all of the celebration, we as NBA can’t just ignore the city of Seattle also. This is the second time in the last decade this city has been spurned when it comes to owning a NBA team. Obviously they’ll turn to a lesser team in the league (maybe Charlotte or Milwaukee) and try to reclaim a franchise of their own, but the best solution for this will be expansion. Taking a team to give a team isn’t the proper way to handle this situation and I think the NBA committee knows that. We’ll see how things unfold for Seattle in the next few years.

Congratulations to the Sacramento Kings though. Your #HereWeStay campaign pulled through. Here’s a message from the Kings fearless leader Kevin Johnson that he posted on twitter

That’s what I’m talking about SACRAMENTO!!!!! WE DID IT!!!!!

— Kevin Johnson (@KJ_MayorJohnson) April 29, 2013

December 1, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Eric Bledsoe (12) guards Sacramento Kings power forward Thomas Robinson (0) in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

(-6.5) Los Angeles Clippers (55-26) at Sacramento Kings (28-53)
10:30 PM EST, Sleep Train Arena, NBA League Pass
Clippers lead season series 2-1

Prediction: Clippers 106 – Kings 93

Previous Meeting:

Despite being the weaker, the Sacramento Kings dominated the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth quarter, outscoring them 38-18, en route to a 116-101 victory. Kings reserves Marcus Thornton, Patrick Patterson and Toney Douglas combined for 57 points, outscoring the Clippers bench by a total of 19 points. Chris Paul struggled from the field going 2-10, though collecting 15 assists.

Preview:

They say history often repeats itself. When the Sacramento Kings opened up the cities inaugural season, the first team the franchised played against was the Los Angeles Clippers. Fast forward twenty-eight years later and the Clippers who were there to see it began may be their to witness this cities end.

While the Clippers are preparing for the playoffs, an emotional night may be in order as this may be the last NBA game in Sacramento as the Kings are steadily fighting with the city of Seattle over the 68 year old franchise. With Mayor Kevin Johnson putting forth all the effort he can come up with, there is no guarantee that they’ll win the fight. And the NBA isn’t giving any clues on which city has the upper-hand in obtaining franchise.

Currently the 4th seed in the Western Conference, there’s a likely chance that this team could finish as the third seed by the end of the night avoiding the Memphis Grizzlies to take on the Golden State Warriors. There’s also a chance that by the end of the night they’ll have lost home-court advantage and will begin their journey for a championship at the FedEx Forum. I went a bit in-depth over the Clippers playoff seeding in an earlier article.And with home-court on the line, don’t expect this Clippers team to take their foot off the pedal entering the last game of the season.

Fortunately for the fans of Sacramento, if this is the last game in the team’s history, it should be an entertaining one. It’s quite unlikely that this team will lie down to the Clippers especially after defeating them the last game. They probably wouldn’t mind spoiling the Clippers chances at home court in the first round of the playoffs either. Despite the efforts that Tyreke Evans, Demarcus Cousins and company can provide, the NBA is and always will be a stars league. Blake Griffin knows the importance of tonight’s game.

“It’s very, very important,” Griffin said. “We want to have home-court advantage in the first round.”

via Clippers-King Preview - ESPN.com

After a 26 points (only three misses) in the last team meeting, expect him to show up big time and deliver a show whether intentionally for the fans or because he has to will his team to victory.