The Kings clinch winning record for the first time in 16 years, but where do they go from here?

NEW YORK — As the final seconds ebbed away in the Sacramento Kings' 101-96 victory over the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Thursday night, Kings fans began a loud «Light The Beam!» chant.

It was a celebratory night on a few levels. The victory was Sacramento's eighth in its past 10 games — the best record of any team in the NBA in that span. It also pushed the Kings a half-game in front of the Memphis Grizzlies for the second seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

But, in the immediate, it did something bigger: It gave the Kings 42 victories, ensuring Sacramento has a winning record this season.

That might not sound like a big deal. But consider this: The 2022-23 season marks the first time Sacramento has posted a winning record since the 2005-06 season, a span of 16 seasons — an NBA record.

The second-longest streak? Held by the Kings, too, from 1983 to 1998.

«If anything, it means a lot for the fans and the organization,» Kings coach Mike Brown said after the game. «Sacramento, it's a proud fan base. Hardworking fan base up in the city and they don't get a lot of love around the nation citywise, or even in the state of California citywise. So to be able to pound their chest and be able to walk with their heads high and talk with their friends to have a little bit of bragging rights, it's great.

»It's a little tough for me, because I don't equate March 16 with 42 wins. We're just trying to go after as many as we can while trying to play the right way — especially this time of year."

For the Kings and their fans, this time of year has rarely been about getting ready for the playoffs.

Until this season, the only coach to have posted a winning record — or even 40 wins in a season — with the Kings was Rick Adelman,