Game ID: 22300862
Sacramento Kings @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Friday, March 1, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT1 Final
MIN 22 37 23 33 5 120SAC 30 30 31 24 9 124
MIN vs SAC ScoutingMIN 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.
MIN availability going into 2/23 · 7 days' rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 2/24 · back-to-back
full strength
MIN availability going into 2/27 · 2 days' rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 2/28 · back-to-back
full strength
MIN availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restNEW Morris 13 to 18 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Anderson missed 2 since 2/28, returns tonight: 14 min (68% of 21)
NEW Morris 13 to 18 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 3/04 · back-to-backBACK Anderson back 3/03 after 2, 14 min since (68% of 21)
NEW Morris 13 to 18 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 3/07 · 2 days' restOUT McLaughlin missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Anderson back 3/03 after 2, 22 min since (101% of 21)
NEW Morris 13 to 19 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 3/08 · back-to-backOUT McLaughlin missed 3 since 3/03, returns tonight: 11 min (100% of 11)
BACK Anderson back 3/03 after 2, 24 min since (111% of 21)
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)
SAC availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT Vezenkov missed 9 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Fox back 3/04 after 2, 39 min since (108% of 36)
BACK Ellis back 2/28 after 3, 13 min since (78% of 17)
SAC availability going into 3/07 · back-to-backOUT Vezenkov missed 10 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Fox back 3/04 after 2, 39 min since (109% of 36)
BACK Ellis back 2/28 after 3, 14 min since (79% of 17)
SAC availability going into 3/10 · 2 days' restOUT Duarte missed 2 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Vezenkov missed 11 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Fox back 3/04 after 2, 38 min since (105% of 36)
BACK Ellis back 2/28 after 3, 15 min since (84% of 17)
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.
2/23 vs MIL 107-112 — MIN notes
MIN lost 107-112. MIN took 11 more shots (98 to 87), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 44% to MIL's 47%, 13 of 35 from three, and got to the line 13 times to MIL's 25. Edwards led with 28 (10 of 27, 4 of 12 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Towns added 22, Alexander-Walker 13. Q4 was theirs, 37-25, the deficit cut from 17 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 87-70 against them. Edwards's -16 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/24 vs BKN 101-86 — MIN notes
MIN won 101-86. MIN shot 43% (36 of 84) to BKN's 34%, 12 of 38 from three, and went to the line 23 times to BKN's 11 — 17 points from the stripe to their 10. Edwards led with 29 (11 of 23, 1 of 3 from three, 6 of 9 at the line); Towns added 28, Conley 14. The hinge was Q4, 31-20: a lead of 4 became 15. MIN trailed 42-45 at the half and won the second half 59-41. Towns was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
2/27 vs SAS 114-105 — MIN notes
MIN won 114-105. MIN shot 46% (43 of 93) to SAS's 48%, 13 of 31 from three. MIN turned it over 14 times to SAS's 22. Edwards led with 34 (13 of 29, 4 of 10 from three); Reid added 22, Conley 16. The hinge was Q1, 29-21: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Alexander-Walker was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
2/28 vs MEM 110-101 — MIN notes
MIN won 110-101. MIN shot 49% (39 of 79) to MEM's 39%, 14 of 35 from three. The glass went 39-50 against them. Edwards led with 34 (11 of 21, 1 of 6 from three, 11 of 11 at the line); Reid added 19, Towns 13. The hinge was Q3, 38-32: MIN came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 3. MIN trailed 50-53 at the half and won the second half 60-48. Reid was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
3/01 vs SAC 120-124 — MIN notes
MIN lost 120-124 in 1 overtime. MIN shot 49% (42 of 85) to SAC's 50%, 12 of 31 from three, and went to the line 32 times to SAC's 24 — 24 points from the stripe to their 13. MIN turned it over 12 times to SAC's 7, and SAC turned those into 8 steals. McDaniels led with 26 (9 of 11, 5 of 7 from three); Towns added 19, Reid 18. Q4 was theirs, 33-24, the deficit cut from 9 to 0, but the other 4 periods went 100-87 against them. Conley's -22 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/03 vs LAC — 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 vs POR — 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 107 a night and allowing 101, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Edwards at 27 and Towns at 20 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 104, shooting 43 percent and 29 from three, 19 free throws a game; Ayton at 20 and Simons at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Sharpe (22 straight), Ayton (2 straight), Henderson (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-8 a night and Minnesota plus-0 and the arc, Minnesota at 36 percent from three to Portland's 29. Call it Minnesota 110, Portland 104.
3/07 @ 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 118 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Siakam at 19 and Mathurin at 19 a game. One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 24 and Towns at 16 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 107 a night to Indiana's 122 and the line, where Minnesota takes 25 free throws a game to Indiana's 19. Call it Indiana 116, Minnesota 115, Minnesota keeping it close.
3/08 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Garland at 20 and Eva. Mobley at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Mitchell (4 straight), Strus (2 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and Towns at 16 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-2 a night and Cleveland minus-9 and the line, where Minnesota takes 26 free throws a game to Cleveland's 17. Call it Cleveland 111, Minnesota 109, Minnesota keeping it close.
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 110-121 — SAC notes
SAC lost 110-121. SAC shot 53% (45 of 85) to MIA's 52%, 13 of 32 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 20 fouls committed. Murray led with 28 (10 of 14, 6 of 7 from three); Fox added 27, Sabonis 14. Q4 was theirs, 29-20, the deficit cut from 20 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 101-81 against them. They led by as many as 10. Barnes's -18 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/28 @ DEN 96-117 — SAC notes
SAC lost 96-117. SAC took 9 more shots (95 to 86), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to DEN's 53%, 12 of 35 from three. Murray led with 21 (9 of 17, 3 of 7 from three); Duarte added 18, Monk 14. Q1 was theirs, 35-28, but the other 3 periods went 89-61 against them. They led by as many as 15. Sabonis's -26 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/01 @ MIN 124-120 — SAC notes
SAC won 124-120 in 1 overtime. SAC shot 50% (50 of 100) to MIN's 49%, 11 of 29 from three, and got to the line 24 times to MIN's 32. SAC turned it over 7 times to MIN's 12. Monk led with 39 (16 of 29, 5 of 8 from three); Sabonis added 21, Murray 17. The hinge was Q1, 30-22: from level to 8 ahead. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
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.
3/06 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 119, shooting 53 percent and 41 from three, 16 free throws a game; James at 28 and Davis at 25 a game. Without Vanderbilt (13 straight), Vincent (35 straight), Wood (7 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 27 and Murray at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-5 a night and the Lakers minus-3 and the arc, the Lakers at 41 percent from three to Sacramento's 36. Call it the Lakers 119, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.
3/07 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 16 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Monk at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Vassell at 23 and Wembanyama at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 17 times a game to Sacramento's 13 and the arc, San Antonio at 41 percent from three to Sacramento's 36. Call it Sacramento 118, San Antonio 114, San Antonio keeping it close.
3/10 vs HOU — 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 120, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Monk at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 27 and Sengun at 23 a game. Without Je. Green (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-8 a night and Houston plus-1 and the defense, Houston allowing 110 a night to Sacramento's 120. Call it Sacramento 116, Houston 115, Houston keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINAE A. Edwards
JM J. McDaniels
JM J. McLaughlin
KT K. Towns
MC M. Conley
MM M. Morris
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RG R. Gobert
SACAL A. Len
CD C. Duarte
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
KE K. Ellis
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
TL T. Lyles
MIN/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
Malik Monk scores 39 to lead Kings past Timberwolves in overtime
MINNEAPOLIS -- — Malik Monk scored 35 of his 39 points after halftime and the Sacramento Kings defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-120 in overtime on Friday night.
Anthony Edwards , Minnesota's leading scorer, had 11 points in the first half but did not play after halftime due to personal reasons, according to team officials.
Minnesota led 120-117 midway through the overtime period before Monk hit back-to-back 3-pointers. The Wolves had a chance to tie it with 17.5 seconds to play, but Naz Reid missed a corner 3 and Trey Lyles hit a free throw to clinch the victory.
Sacramento's Domantas Sabonis had 21 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists before fouling out in overtime.
Keegan Murray scored 17 points, Davion Mitchell had 16 and Harrison Barnes had 14 for the Kings, who were missing leading scorer De’Aaron Fox, who missed his second straight game with a left knee contusion.
Monk made 16 of 29 shots, including 5 of 8 3-pointers, to make up for the absence of Fox's 26.9 points per game.
“The great teams always have two or three guys like that where, sometimes you don’t have to call a play, you just say, ‘Here’s the ball — go make a play, for yourself or for your teammates,’" Kings coach Mike Brown said. “And Malik did that. Especially with Fox out, down the stretch we needed somebody to stand up for us and Malik was the guy that did.”
Jaden McDaniels led the Timberwolves with 26 points. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 19 points, Reid had 18 points and Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 16 rebounds.
Playing against a much bigger team, the Kings turned the game with 14 offensive rebounds, which led to 20 second-chance points.
“A lot of times we did a great job defensively and then they get those rebounds, they get a kick-out 3, and that hurts,” Gobert said. “Instead of (us) getting a stop, they get a wide-open shot.”
Monk scored 11 of Sacramento's last 13 points of the third quarter, to stretch a one-point lead into a 91–82 advantage.
“I had to get it going at some point,” Monk said of his second-half surge. “I was getting to the rim and my midrange and floater opened things up for me.”
The Wolves opened the fourth on a 14-4 run for a 96-95 lead on McDaniels' 3-pointer. But Monk responded with a driving layup and a breakaway dunk to put the Kings back on top.
Gobert hit one of two free throws with 40.1 seconds to play to tie the score at 115-115 and send it into overtime.
For the second straight game, the Wolves dug themselves a hole early. Two nights after falling behind Memphis 14-0, Minnesota started 1 for 4 with three turnovers on its first seven possessions. Meanwhile, the Kings hit four of their first six 3-point attempts and raced to an 18-4 lead.
“Tonight, I think our slow start and the offensive rebounding were the things that sunk us,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said.
The Wolves' offense also stagnated at the worst possible time. After taking their three-point lead in overtime, they came up empty on six consecutive possessions.
“We were trying to put bodies on bodies all night," Brown said. “We have to have a level of physicality in order to win games, because we're not going to be able to score 125 points every game.”