Game ID: 22300309
Sacramento Kings @ LA Clippers
Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 10:30 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAC 32 38 29 20 119SAC 24 24 22 29 99
LAC vs SAC ScoutingLAC vs SAC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
LAC availability going into 12/02 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 2 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 12 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 11/25 after 2, 3 min since (21% of 14)
LAC availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Tucker missed 3 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 13 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 11/25 after 2, 3 min since (21% of 14)
LAC availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Coffey missed 2 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 4 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 14 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 12/02, out tonight
LAC availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Coffey missed 3 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 5 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 15 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 12/02, out tonight
LAC availability going into 12/12 · back-to-backOUT Coffey missed 4 since 12/02, returns tonight: 9 min (43% of 21)
OUT Tucker missed 6 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 16 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 4 since 12/02, returns tonight: 9 min (64% of 14)
LAC availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 7 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 17 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 2 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Coffey back 12/12 after 4, 9 min since (43% of 21)
BACK Hyland back 12/12 after 4, 9 min since (64% of 14)
LAC availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 8 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 18 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 3 since 12/11, returns tonight: 5 min (50% of 10)
BACK Coffey back 12/12 after 4, 19 min since (93% of 21)
BACK Hyland back 12/12 after 4, 9 min since (64% of 14)
LAC availability going into 12/18 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 9 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 19 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Coffey back 12/12 after 4, 18 min since (89% of 21)
BACK Boston back 12/16 after 3, 5 min since (50% of 10)
LAC availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 10 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 20 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Coffey back 12/12 after 4, 18 min since (89% of 21)
BACK Boston back 12/16 after 3, 6 min since (55% of 10)
SAC availability going into 12/02 · 2 days' restOUT Murray missed 4 since 11/22, returns tonight: 23 min (70% of 34)
BACK Ellis back 11/28 after 3, 6 min since (33% of 17)
SAC availability going into 12/04 · 1 day's restBACK Murray back 12/02 after 4, 23 min since (70% of 34)
BACK Ellis back 11/28 after 3, 7 min since (40% of 17)
NEW Duarte 12 to 17 min over the last 4
SAC availability going into 12/08 · 3 days' restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 12/02, returns tonight: 1 min (6% of 15)
OUT Duarte missed 2 since 12/02, returns tonight: 1 min (7% of 12)
BACK Murray back 12/02 after 4, 27 min since (81% of 34)
BACK Ellis back 11/28 after 3, 7 min since (42% of 17)
SAC availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restBACK Murray back 12/02 after 4, 28 min since (84% of 34)
BACK Ellis back 11/28 after 3, 10 min since (57% of 17)
BACK Mitchell back 12/08 after 2, 1 min since (6% of 15)
BACK Duarte back 12/08 after 2, 1 min since (7% of 12)
SAC availability going into 12/12 · back-to-backBACK Murray back 12/02 after 4, 30 min since (88% of 34)
BACK Mitchell back 12/08 after 2, 2 min since (11% of 15)
BACK Duarte back 12/08 after 2, 2 min since (16% of 12)
SAC availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restBACK Murray back 12/02 after 4, 30 min since (89% of 34)
BACK Mitchell back 12/08 after 2, 6 min since (39% of 15)
BACK Duarte back 12/08 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 12)
SAC availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restBACK Mitchell back 12/08 after 2, 6 min since (39% of 15)
BACK Duarte back 12/08 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 12)
SAC availability going into 12/18 · 1 day's restBACK Mitchell back 12/08 after 2, 9 min since (60% of 15)
BACK Duarte back 12/08 after 2, 5 min since (40% of 12)
SAC availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's rest
full strength
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and George at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Coffey (4 straight), Tucker (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Monk at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 113 a night to Sacramento's 120 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-0. Call it the Clippers 118, Sacramento 114, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/02 vs GSW 113-112 — LAC notes
LAC won 113-112. LAC shot 49% (44 of 90) to GSW's 44%, 13 of 39 from three, and got to the line 14 times to GSW's 24. George led with 25 (8 of 17, 4 of 8 from three); Harden added 21, Leonard 20. The hinge was Q3, 37-25: the deficit went from 19 to 7. LAC trailed 48-67 at the half and won the second half 65-45. Powell was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/06 vs DEN 111-102 — LAC notes
LAC won 111-102. LAC shot 46% (40 of 87) to DEN's 42%, 12 of 27 from three, and went to the line 25 times to DEN's 9 — 19 points from the stripe to their 8. George led with 25 (8 of 20, 5 of 9 from three); Harden added 20, Leonard 17. The hinge was Q2, 40-21: LAC came in trailing by 15 and left it ahead by 4. Powell was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
12/08 @ UTA 117-103 — LAC notes
LAC won 117-103. LAC shot 49% (43 of 88) to UTA's 45%, 15 of 34 from three. Leonard led with 41 (14 of 23, 6 of 8 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); George added 20, Zubac 18. The hinge was Q2, 27-20: a lead of 6 became 13, and the lead reached 18. Leonard was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
12/11 vs POR 132-127 — LAC notes
LAC won 132-127. LAC shot 55% (49 of 89) to POR's 48%, 13 of 34 from three. Leonard led with 34 (11 of 19, 3 of 8 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); George added 20, Harden 20. The hinge was Q1, 43-32: from level to 11 ahead. Leonard was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
12/12 vs SAC 119-99 — LAC notes
LAC won 119-99. LAC shot 52% (44 of 84) to SAC's 42%, 11 of 29 from three. The glass went 49-38 for them. Leonard led with 31 (11 of 14, 2 of 3 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Harden added 15, Powell 15. The hinge was Q2, 38-24: a lead of 8 became 22, and the lead reached 33. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
12/14 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 29 and George at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Tucker (7 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; Curry at 27 and Thompson at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Payton II (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-9 a night and the Clippers plus-3 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to Golden State's 118. Call it the Clippers 118, Golden State 112.
12/16 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Harden at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Tucker (8 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 130, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 29 free throws a game; Randle at 30 and Brunson at 28 a game. Without Robinson (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to New York's 130. Call it the Clippers 121, New York 112.
12/18 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 129, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Haliburton at 20 and Turner at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Nembhard (4 straight), Smith (8 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 113, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 34 and George at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Tucker (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 113 a night to Indiana's 129 and the arc, the Clippers at 42 percent from three to Indiana's 32. Call it the Clippers 123, Indiana 120, Indiana keeping it close.
12/20 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Dončić at 37 and Hardaway Jr. at 19 a game. Without Irving (5 straight), Green (8 straight), Kleber (18 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 133 a night and allowing 118, shooting 55 percent and 43 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 31 and Harden at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 4 a night. Without Tucker (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-4 a night and Dallas minus-2 and the arc, the Clippers at 43 percent from three to Dallas's 37. Call it the Clippers 121, Dallas 117, Dallas keeping it close.
12/02 vs DEN 123-117 — SAC notes
SAC won 123-117. SAC shot 48% (48 of 99) to DEN's 49%, 16 of 34 from three. Fox led with 26 (10 of 22, 3 of 6 from three); Monk added 26, Sabonis 17. The hinge was Q2, 39-20: SAC came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 14, and the lead reached 17. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/04 vs NOP 117-127 — SAC notes
SAC lost 117-127. SAC shot 45% (38 of 85) to NOP's 54%, 14 of 41 from three, and went to the line 33 times to NOP's 23 — 27 points from the stripe to their 19. Fox led with 30 (10 of 25, 1 of 7 from three, 9 of 13 at the line); Sabonis added 26, Monk 21. Q1 was theirs, 36-35, but the other 3 periods went 92-81 against them. They led by as many as 15. Monk's -17 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 @ PHX 114-106 — SAC notes
SAC won 114-106. SAC shot 46% (42 of 92) to PHX's 48%, 14 of 39 from three. The glass went 50-40 for them. Fox led with 34 (11 of 24, 4 of 7 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Sabonis added 15, Vezenkov 14. The hinge was Q3, 33-12: SAC came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 12, and the lead reached 15. SAC trailed 50-59 at the half and won the second half 64-47. Monk was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
12/11 vs BKN 131-118 — SAC notes
SAC won 131-118. SAC shot 51% (48 of 94) to BKN's 48%, 25 of 45 from three, and got to the line 14 times to BKN's 21. Fox led with 29 (10 of 22, 5 of 10 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Murray added 24, Monk 21. The hinge was Q1, 26-18: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
12/12 @ LAC 99-119 — SAC notes
SAC lost 99-119. SAC shot 42% (36 of 86) to LAC's 52%, 10 of 37 from three. The glass went 38-49 against them. Murray led with 17 (6 of 14, 0 of 5 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Sabonis added 15, Fox 14. Q4 was theirs, 29-20, the deficit cut from 29 to 20, but the other 3 periods went 99-70 against them. Sabonis's -23 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/14 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Fox at 27 and Monk at 18 a game. One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been minus-0 a night and OKC minus-7 and the arc, Sacramento at 40 percent from three to OKC's 36. Call it OKC 119, Sacramento 118, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/16 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Sabonis at 18 a game. One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sexton at 19 and Horton-Tucker at 15 a game. Without Clarkson (2 straight), Collins (3 straight), Juzang (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 39 percent from three to Utah's 34 and the defense, Sacramento allowing 119 a night to Utah's 125. Call it Sacramento 121, Utah 114.
12/18 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 19 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Murray at 23 a game. One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 129, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Kuzma at 23 and Poole at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Shamet (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Sacramento allowing 114 a night to Washington's 129 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-2 a night and Washington minus-7. Call it Sacramento 125, Washington 113, Sacramento by 12.
12/20 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 43 from three, 20 free throws a game; Fox at 28 and Murray at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brown at 25 and Tatum at 24 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 112 a night to Sacramento's 119 and the arc, Sacramento at 43 percent from three to Boston's 38. Call it Sacramento 118, Boston 117, Boston keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LACAC A. Coffey
BH B. Hyland
DT D. Theis
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
KB K. Brown
KL K. Leonard
NP N. Powell
PG P. George
RW R. Westbrook
TM T. Mann
XM X. Moon
SACAV A. Vezenkov
CD C. Duarte
DF D. Fox
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
JF J. Ford
JM J. McGee
KE K. Edwards
KE K. Ellis
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
TL T. Lyles
LAC/SAC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Leonard's scoring binge continues with 31, Clippers rout Kings 119-99 for fifth straight win
LOS ANGELES -- — Kawhi Leonard sat in the second half of back-to-backs last season. Now he's healthy and highly productive.
Leonard scored 31 points in three quarters, giving him 106 in his last three games, and the Los Angeles Clippers routed the Sacramento Kings 119-99 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory, the NBA's longest active streak.
“Just being healthy has been good,” said Leonard, who tore his ACL during the 2021 playoffs.
Paul George dived on the floor for a loose ball in the first half and didn’t play in the second because of a sore left groin. Coach Tyronn Lue said George could have returned if needed.
“I didn't like that,” Lue said, noting George's multiple shoulder surgeries. “It just shows you these guys want to win.”
Adding James Harden has given the Clippers another playmaking weapon.
Harden had 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds to help the Clippers sweep a back-to-back for the first time this season. They have won 10 of their last 13 games.
“We're locked in defensively,” Lue said. “That's where it all starts for us. When we're getting stops and getting out in transition we're a hard team to beat.”
Keegan Murray led Sacramento with 17 points and Domantas Sabonis added 15 points and 10 rebounds. De'Aaron Fox had 14 points as Sacramento's two-game winning streak was snapped.
The Kings had won five of seven, including a win against Brooklyn on Monday night, but were overwhelmed by the Clippers from the second quarter on.
“We got our behinds kicked and that’s twice by this team and we had no answers,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “The thing that’s most concerning is sometimes you just got to fight and tonight we didn’t fight. That’s the biggest takeaway from this game.”
The Clippers led 70-48 at halftime, shooting 59% from the floor, hitting eight 3-pointers and making all 10 of their free throws. Ahead by nine, they outscored the Kings 31-11, including 11 in a row — six by Leonard — for a 29-point lead just before the break.
“Kawhi's main thing is just let's play the right way every single night,” Lue said, “and when we're not doing that he's very vocal about it.”
Leonard scored 14 points in the third, reeling off the Clippers' final seven to send them into the fourth leading 99-70. He worked to find his usual spots on the floor and the few times he couldn't, he passed off to his teammates. Leonard made all seven of his free throw attempts and the Clippers hit 20 of 21.
Terance Mann the only LA starter on the floor in the fourth. Norman Powell led the bench with 15 points.
UP NEXT
Kings: Host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday to open a six-game homestand.
Clippers: Host the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.