Game ID: 22300827
Sacramento Kings @ LA Clippers
Sunday, February 25, 2024 at 9:30 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAC 28 23 29 27 107SAC 25 33 31 34 123
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 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 35 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 5 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Zubac back 2/04 after 9, 20 min since (74% of 27)
BACK Boston back 2/07 after 2, 4 min since (35% of 10)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 20 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/14 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 36 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 6 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Zubac back 2/04 after 9, 20 min since (76% of 27)
BACK Boston back 2/07 after 2, 4 min since (42% of 10)
LAC availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Tucker missed 37 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 7 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Boston back 2/07 after 2, 6 min since (57% of 10)
LAC availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backOUT Theis missed 2 since 2/14, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 38 since 11/29, returns tonight: 14 min (95% of 15)
OUT Hyland missed 8 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Boston back 2/07 after 2, 5 min since (52% of 10)
LAC availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Theis missed 3 since 2/14, returns tonight: 14 min (85% of 17)
OUT Hyland missed 9 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Tucker back 2/23 after 38, 14 min since (95% of 15)
NEW Coffey 21 to 26 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/28 · 2 days' restOUT Hyland missed 10 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Theis back 2/25 after 3, 14 min since (85% of 17)
BACK Tucker back 2/23 after 38, 10 min since (65% of 15)
LAC availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT George missed 2 since 2/25, returns tonight: 30 min (89% of 34)
OUT Hyland missed 11 since 2/02, returns tonight: 16 min (119% of 14)
BACK Theis back 2/25 after 3, 23 min since (134% of 17)
BACK Tucker back 2/23 after 38, 10 min since (68% of 15)
NEW Powell 26 to 32 min over the last 4
NEW Mann 25 to 31 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Zubac missed 2 since 2/28, returns tonight: 19 min (70% of 27)
BACK George back 3/01 after 2, 30 min since (89% of 34)
BACK Theis back 2/25 after 3, 22 min since (130% of 17)
BACK Tucker back 2/23 after 38, 10 min since (68% of 15)
BACK Hyland back 3/01 after 11, 16 min since (119% of 14)
LAC availability going into 3/04 · back-to-backOUT Tucker missed 2 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK George back 3/01 after 2, 32 min since (95% of 34)
BACK Zubac back 3/03 after 2, 19 min since (70% of 27)
BACK Theis back 2/25 after 3, 24 min since (141% of 17)
BACK Hyland back 3/01 after 11, 15 min since (109% of 14)
SAC availability going into 2/11 · 1 day's restOUT Duarte missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 2/05 after 7, 4 min since (26% of 17)
BACK Vezenkov back 2/07 after 7, 11 min since (86% of 12)
SAC availability going into 2/13 · 1 day's restOUT Duarte missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 2/05 after 7, 9 min since (51% of 17)
BACK Vezenkov back 2/07 after 7, 11 min since (86% of 12)
SAC availability going into 2/14 · back-to-backOUT Duarte missed 4 since 2/07, returns tonight: 8 min (64% of 12)
OUT Vezenkov missed 2 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 2/05 after 7, 8 min since (49% of 17)
SAC availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Vezenkov missed 3 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Duarte back 2/14 after 4, 8 min since (64% of 12)
SAC availability going into 2/25 · 2 days' restOUT Vezenkov missed 4 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Duarte back 2/14 after 4, 14 min since (114% of 12)
SAC availability going into 2/26 · back-to-backOUT Ellis missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Vezenkov missed 5 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Duarte back 2/14 after 4, 15 min since (119% of 12)
SAC availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Ellis missed 3 since 2/22, returns tonight: 8 min (48% of 17)
OUT Vezenkov missed 6 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Duarte back 2/14 after 4, 15 min since (124% of 12)
SAC availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT Vezenkov missed 7 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 2/28 after 3, 8 min since (48% of 17)
BACK Duarte back 2/14 after 4, 17 min since (141% of 12)
SAC availability going into 3/04 · 2 days' restOUT Fox missed 2 since 2/28, returns tonight: 39 min (108% of 36)
OUT Vezenkov missed 8 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 2/28 after 3, 13 min since (78% of 17)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 22 and George at 21 a game. Without Theis (3 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 117, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 26 and Sabonis at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-5 a night and the Clippers minus-4 and the line, where the Clippers take 24 free throws a game to Sacramento's 18. Call it the Clippers 117, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.
2/12 vs MIN 100-121 — LAC notes
LAC lost 100-121. LAC shot 40% (34 of 84) to MIN's 53%, 9 of 28 from three, and went to the line 26 times to MIN's 19 — 23 points from the stripe to their 18. Leonard led with 18 (8 of 17, 1 of 3 from three); George added 18, Harden 17. Q2 was theirs, 29-21, turning a 4-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 100-71 against them. Powell's -22 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/14 @ GSW 130-125 — LAC notes
LAC won 130-125. LAC shot 50% (44 of 88) to GSW's 46%, 13 of 38 from three, and went to the line 37 times to GSW's 18 — 29 points from the stripe to their 13. Harden led with 26 (7 of 12, 4 of 9 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); George added 24, Powell 21. The hinge was Q4, 44-28: LAC came in trailing by 11 and left it ahead by 5. LAC trailed 52-59 at the half and won the second half 78-66. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
2/22 @ OKC 107-129 — LAC notes
LAC lost 107-129. LAC shot 45% (42 of 93) to OKC's 56%, 12 of 32 from three. Leonard led with 20 (9 of 12); Powell added 19, Harden 17. Q2 was theirs, 26-26, but the other 3 periods went 103-81 against them. Powell's -22 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/23 @ MEM 101-95 — LAC notes
LAC won 101-95. LAC shot 44% (37 of 84) to MEM's 42%, 12 of 32 from three. LAC turned it over 20 times to MEM's 12, and MEM turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 51-41 for them. Leonard led with 24 (10 of 18, 2 of 6 from three); Mann added 23, George 14. The hinge was Q3, 26-16: LAC came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 4. LAC trailed 53-59 at the half and won the second half 48-36. Mann was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
2/25 vs SAC 107-123 — LAC notes
LAC lost 107-123. LAC shot 49% (40 of 82) to SAC's 49%, 8 of 27 from three. LAC turned it over 15 times to SAC's 10, and SAC turned those into 10 steals. Powell led with 21 (8 of 17, 5 of 9 from three); Leonard added 20, Harden 20. Q1 was theirs, 28-25, but the other 3 periods went 98-79 against them. Harden's -25 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/28 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Leonard at 20 and Harden at 18 a game. 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 120, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; James at 28 and Davis at 27 a game. They have lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Reddish (14 straight), Vanderbilt (9 straight), Vincent (31 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-0 a night and the Lakers minus-7 and the arc, the Lakers at 39 percent from three to the Clippers' 34. Call it the Clippers 118, the Lakers 117, the Lakers keeping it close.
3/01 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 22 and Harden at 19 a game. Without George (2 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 130, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Kuzma at 24 and Poole at 23 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Coulibaly (2 straight), Champagnie (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-1 a night and Washington minus-9 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 118 a night to Washington's 130. Call it the Clippers 123, Washington 112, the Clippers by 11.
3/03 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 106, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Edwards at 27 and Towns at 20 a game. Without Anderson (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Leonard at 23 and Harden at 19 a game. Without Zubac (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 106 a night to the Clippers' 116 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-3 a night and Minnesota minus-1. Call it Minnesota 114, the Clippers 110, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/04 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 97, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 31 and Lillard at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Middleton (10 straight). 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 107, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Leonard at 26 and George at 17 a game. Without Tucker (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the defense, Milwaukee allowing 97 a night to the Clippers' 107 and the arc, Milwaukee at 39 percent from three to the Clippers' 33. Call it Milwaukee 116, the Clippers 109.
2/11 @ OKC 113-127 — SAC notes
SAC lost 113-127. SAC shot 49% (44 of 90) to OKC's 54%, 16 of 42 from three, and got to the line 13 times to OKC's 27. SAC turned it over 18 times to OKC's 9, and OKC turned those into 8 steals. Monk led with 26 (10 of 20, 6 of 10 from three); Sabonis added 21, Fox 15. Q4 was theirs, 30-27, the deficit cut from 17 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 100-83 against them. Fox's -27 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/13 @ PHX 125-130 — SAC notes
SAC lost 125-130. SAC took 10 more shots (95 to 85), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 52% to PHX's 52%, 9 of 31 from three, and got to the line 24 times to PHX's 36. The glass went 50-39 for them. Fox led with 40 (14 of 31, 5 of 12 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Sabonis added 35, Monk 22. Q2 was theirs, 28-26, but the other 3 periods went 104-97 against them. They led by as many as 11. Fox's -9 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/14 @ DEN 102-98 — SAC notes
SAC won 102-98. SAC shot 44% (39 of 89) to DEN's 39%, 9 of 33 from three. Fox led with 30 (12 of 26, 2 of 7 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Sabonis added 20, Barnes 20. The hinge was Q3, 30-21: the deficit went from 12 to 3. SAC trailed 41-53 at the half and won the second half 61-45. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
2/22 vs SAS 127-122 — SAC notes
SAC won 127-122. SAC shot 56% (52 of 93) to SAS's 51%, 13 of 33 from three. Fox led with 28 (12 of 18, 2 of 6 from three); Sabonis added 22, Huerter 21. The hinge was Q2, 35-25: SAC came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 8. Sabonis was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
2/25 @ LAC 123-107 — SAC notes
SAC won 123-107. SAC shot 49% (45 of 91) to LAC's 49%, 15 of 37 from three. SAC turned it over 10 times to LAC's 15. Fox led with 33 (12 of 22, 0 of 4 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Barnes added 22, Sabonis 17. The hinge was Q2, 33-23: SAC came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 7, and the lead reached 18. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
2/26 vs MIA — 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 117, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 29 and Sabonis at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Ellis (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 102, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Adebayo at 21 and Herro at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Rozier (3 straight), Richardson (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 102 a night to Sacramento's 117. Call it Sacramento 114, Miami 113, Miami keeping it close.
2/28 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 25 and Porter Jr. at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Sabonis at 22 a game. Without Ellis (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 108 a night to Sacramento's 116 and the arc, Sacramento at 36 percent from three to Denver's 31. Call it Denver 117, Sacramento 112.
3/01 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 99, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Edwards at 32 and Towns at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 16 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Sabonis at 17 a game. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 99 a night to Sacramento's 113. Call it Minnesota 115, Sacramento 108.
3/04 vs CHI — 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 116 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Fox at 29 and Monk at 19 a game. Without Fox (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 115, shooting 42 percent and 30 from three, 22 free throws a game; DeRozan at 23 and Vučević at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Craig (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 39 percent from three to Chicago's 30 and the glass, where Chicago has been plus-6 a night and Sacramento plus-1. Call it Sacramento 117, Chicago 113, Chicago keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LACAC A. Coffey
DT D. Theis
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
KL K. Leonard
NP N. Powell
PT P. Tucker
RW R. Westbrook
TM T. Mann
SACCD C. Duarte
DF D. Fox
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MJ M. Jones
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
Kings beat Clippers 123-107 behind Fox and hand LA back-to-back losses for 1st time since December
LOS ANGELES -- — De’Aaron Fox scored 33 points, Domantas Sabonis had his NBA-leading 20th triple-double and the Sacramento Kings defeated the Clippers 123-107 on Sunday night, sending Los Angeles to its second loss in a row for the first time since late December.
Norman Powell led the Clippers with 21 points in his first start of the season in place of Paul George , who sat out with a sore left knee. Kawhi Leonard added 20 points, as did James Harden , who made all 10 of his free throws to go with eight assists. Los Angeles hadn't lost two straight since Dec. 21 and 23.
The third-place Clippers came out of the All-Star break playing a back-to-back on the road. They returned home for the first time, where they were 20-6, only to lose to a team below them in the West.
“I feel like we’re competing, but we’re just like a step behind. Hopefully we get a rhythm,” Leonard said. “We're a little flat right now, but we got time to pick it up.”
Harrison Barnes added 22 points for the Kings, who won their third in a row. Sabonis finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists, making him one of six players in NBA history with 20 or more triple-doubles in a season.
“I think people kind of become numb to what he’s doing,” Fox said of Sabonis. “Averaging close to a triple-double, that’s a tough thing to do.”
The Clippers cut their deficit to five early in the fourth before the Kings had them down 10. After again rallying to get to 101-96 on Terance Mann 's three-point play, the Clippers soon trailed by 10 again.
“When you’re playing from behind like that, it’s tough,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “One mistake, one wrong play and the lead goes back up. You can't get that far down, especially against a good team.”
Barnes and Davion Mitchell hit consecutive 3-pointers and Barnes scored again, pushing the Kings' lead to 116-100.
“We didn’t give up 30 points in a single quarter,” Fox said. “If you’re guarding that way, you give yourself a chance every single night.”
The Kings ran off 10 straight points to open the third before Barnes' 3-pointer extended their lead to 18 points.
After their early three-minute scoreless stretch, the Clippers outscored the Kings 29-21 the rest of the period to end the third trailing 89-80.
UP NEXT
Kings: Host the Miami Heat on Monday in the second game of a back-to-back.