The Sacramento Kings are just one win away from securing their spot in the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament quarterfinals after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves in an impressive 124-111 victory on Friday at the Target Center. With a perfect 3-0 record in West Group C, the Kings have emerged as strong contenders in the tournament.

In a thrilling turn of events, the Golden State Warriors also clinched their second In-Season Tournament win, defeating the San Antonio Spurs by six points. This victory sets up a highly anticipated matchup between the Kings and the Warriors on Tuesday at the Golden 1 Center.

The fate of Group C now lies in the hands of the Kings. If they manage to triumph over the Warriors, they will secure the top spot in Group C and advance to the In-Season Tournament quarterfinals. However, even if they face a loss, the Kings still have a chance to progress to the knockout stage by maintaining a better point differential than the Warriors and Timberwolves. Alternatively, they could secure a spot as the Western Conference's wild card, determined by tiebreakers such as head-to-head record, point differential, and total points scored.

The In-Season Tournament has brought a new level of excitement to the league, engaging both fans and players alike. Kings forward Trey Lyles expressed his enthusiasm for the tournament, stating, "It's great. I think it's a great thing to engage fans, engage the team... It's fun for everybody involved."

Meanwhile, in the rest of West Group C, the Oklahoma City Thunder (1-2) and the San Antonio Spurs (0-4) have been eliminated from contention. The Timberwolves (2-1) still have a shot at winning the group stage if they defeat the Thunder, combined with a Warriors win over the Kings, and some favorable tiebreakers.

The stage is set for an intense battle between the Kings and the Warriors this Tuesday. Sacramento looks to continue their dominant run and secure their ticket to the In-Season Tournament quarterfinals, while Golden State aims to challenge their reign and secure their own spot in the knockouts. Basketball fans are sure to be on the edge of their seats as these two talented teams clash for a chance at tournament glory.