Kings take moon shot at Curry, then Warriors rally late to win

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SACRAMENTO — During the Warriors’ pregame introductions Friday night, a video appeared on the Golden 1 Center big screen of the first manned moon landing.

It was the Kings’ not-so-subtle jab at Stephen Curry, who set off a firestorm this week when he jokingly suggested on a podcast that the moon landing was faked. And the ribbing didn’t stop there: Sacramento fans held up giant cut-outs of the moon and Neil Armstrong whenever Golden State players stepped to the foul line.

In past years, such taunts would have seemed like little more than amateur tactics from a struggling team jealous of its much more successful neighbor. But in the Warriors’ 130-125 win Friday, the Kings showed that they’re no longer the chronically inept franchise that plays 88 miles to the northeast — they’re a youthful, talented group worthy of Golden State’s attention.

“They’re young, but they can play,” Warriors forward Kevin Durant said.

Sacramento trailed for three-plus quarters, only to seize its first lead of the night with a 15-2 run to open the fourth. The Warriors quieted a capacity crowd of 17,583 by unleashing a 17-2 blitz over the final 3:03 to steal the victory.

Two nights after being blown out at home by a Kawhi Leonard-less Raptors team, Golden State was tested by a club that has 12 players still on their rookie contracts. A defense that appeared much improved just a week ago allowed Sacramento to shoot 46.9 percent from the field and score 31 fast-break points.

However, the Warriors made necessary stops down the stretch on a night when they got solid contributions from their four All-Stars: Curry (35 points, seven rebounds, six assists), Durant (33 points, eight rebounds, eight assists), Klay Thompson (27 points, nine rebounds) and Draymond Green (14 rebounds, 10 assists). Though Golden State committed 18 turnovers (12 in the second half), it outrebounded the Kings 60-42.

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant, right, drives to the basket against Sacramento Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic 2during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 14, 2018, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) less Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant, right, drives to the basket against Sacramento Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic 2during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 14, 2018, in Sacramento, ... more Photo: Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press Photo: Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Kings take moon shot at Curry, then Warriors rally late to win 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Durant scored eight of the first 10 points in the Warriors’ late surge, and Thompson hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 38.5 seconds left. Four made free throws from Curry helped Golden State ice the game and escape with its second win over the Kings in three weeks.

“Just wide open on the right wing and knew one was going to fall eventually,” Thompson said of his late three. “So never lose confidence, just keep shooting, and that’s what happened.”

Friday was the latest sign of progress for a Sacramento franchise that has emulated the Warriors in recent years. Since taking over in 2013, Kings principal owner Vivek Ranadive — a former Golden State minority owner — has tried to get his team to run a Warriors-like system that ratchets up the tempo, prizes three-pointers and subsists on off-ball movement.

The difference this season is that Sacramento finally has the personnel to fit that style of play. Guard Buddy Hield, whom Ranadive has infamously compared to Curry, hit five three-pointers to pace the Kings with 27 points. The new face of the franchise, 20-year-old De’Aaron Fox, paired his 25 points with nine assists.

Roughly a third of the way through the season, the Warriors sit mere percentage points behind Denver for the Western Conference’s top seed while Sacramento trails Portland by half a game for the eighth seed. Friday’s game, which had cheers raining down from the rafters as Northern California’s two NBA teams traded runs, illustrated just how entertaining a first-round matchup could be between the Kings and Golden State.

In the 33 years that the Kings have been in Sacramento, they have not made the playoffs in the same season as the Warriors. Over the past half-decade, as Golden State has charted a dynastic course, the Kings have been mired in a lengthy rebuild.

Even in defeat, Sacramento made one thing certain: It is ready to kindle a rivalry with the Warriors.

“We battled like crazy coming from behind and pushing that thing out, and playing with a lot of energy,” Kings head coach Dave Joerger said. “They just got us with their experience at the end.”

Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Con_Chron