Game ID: 22300413
Sacramento Kings @ Portland Trail Blazers
Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 10:00 PM ET
Moda Center, Portland, OR
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
POR 32 35 37 26 130SAC 33 27 35 18 113
POR vs SAC ScoutingPOR 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.
POR availability going into 12/17 · back-to-backOUT Rupert missed 9 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 3 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Badji missed 5 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Simons back 12/06 after 18, 34 min since (98% of 34)
BACK Grant back 12/16 after 4, 38 min since (114% of 34)
BACK Ayton back 12/14 after 3, 24 min since (74% of 32)
BACK Brogdon back 12/14 after 2, 19 min since (67% of 29)
BACK Murray back 12/06 after 4, 19 min since (86% of 22)
BACK Mays back 12/14 after 7, 17 min since (98% of 17)
POR availability going into 12/19 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 2 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Mays missed 2 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Rupert missed 10 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 4 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Badji missed 6 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Grant back 12/16 after 4, 40 min since (117% of 34)
BACK Ayton back 12/14 after 3, 27 min since (83% of 32)
BACK Brogdon back 12/14 after 2, 22 min since (75% of 29)
POR availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 3 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Mays missed 3 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Rupert missed 11 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 5 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Badji missed 7 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Grant back 12/16 after 4, 38 min since (113% of 34)
BACK Ayton back 12/14 after 3, 30 min since (94% of 32)
BACK Brogdon back 12/14 after 2, 24 min since (85% of 29)
POR availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 4 since 12/16, returns tonight: 5 min (21% of 22)
OUT Mays missed 4 since 12/16, returns tonight: 5 min (27% of 17)
OUT Rupert missed 12 since 11/26, returns tonight: 5 min (28% of 16)
OUT Minaya missed 6 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Badji missed 8 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Grant back 12/16 after 4, 37 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Ayton back 12/14 after 3, 31 min since (96% of 32)
BACK Brogdon back 12/14 after 2, 25 min since (87% of 29)
POR availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Sharpe missed 2 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 7 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Badji missed 9 since 12/06, returns tonight: 2 min (18% of 10)
BACK Grant back 12/16 after 4, 36 min since (105% of 34)
BACK Murray back 12/23 after 4, 5 min since (21% of 22)
BACK Mays back 12/23 after 4, 5 min since (27% of 17)
BACK Rupert back 12/23 after 12, 5 min since (28% of 16)
POR availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Sharpe missed 3 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 8 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Murray back 12/23 after 4, 3 min since (15% of 22)
BACK Mays back 12/23 after 4, 3 min since (19% of 17)
BACK Rupert back 12/23 after 12, 5 min since (28% of 16)
BACK Badji back 12/26 after 9, 2 min since (18% of 10)
POR availability going into 12/29 · back-to-backOUT Sharpe missed 4 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Rupert missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 9 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Murray back 12/23 after 4, 3 min since (15% of 22)
BACK Mays back 12/23 after 4, 7 min since (40% of 17)
BACK Badji back 12/26 after 9, 8 min since (78% of 10)
POR availability going into 1/01 · 2 days' restOUT Simons missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Sharpe missed 5 since 12/21, returns tonight: 18 min (54% of 33)
OUT Ayton missed 3 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 19 min (88% of 22)
OUT Reath missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Rupert missed 3 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 10 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Mays back 12/23 after 4, 10 min since (59% of 17)
BACK Badji back 12/26 after 9, 9 min since (85% of 10)
POR availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Simons missed 3 since 12/28, returns tonight: 27 min (78% of 34)
OUT Ayton missed 4 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Reath missed 3 since 12/28, returns tonight: 6 min (34% of 18)
OUT Rupert missed 4 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 11 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Sharpe back 1/01 after 5, 18 min since (54% of 33)
BACK Murray back 12/23 after 4, 8 min since (39% of 22)
BACK Mays back 12/23 after 4, 12 min since (68% of 17)
BACK Badji back 12/26 after 9, 12 min since (121% of 10)
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
SAC availability going into 12/22 · 1 day's rest
full strength
SAC availability going into 12/23 · back-to-back
full strength
SAC availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' rest
full strength
SAC availability going into 12/29 · 2 days' rest
full strength
SAC availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's rest
full strength
SAC availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's rest
full strength
SAC availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backNEW Duarte 12 to 21 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Simons at 29 and Grant at 23 a game. Without Sharpe (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 27 and Murray at 25 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Sacramento 117, Portland 116, Portland keeping it close.
12/17 vs GSW 114-118 — POR notes
POR lost 114-118. POR shot 47% (40 of 85) to GSW's 53%, 13 of 35 from three. Grant led with 30 (11 of 19, 3 of 9 from three); Simons added 24, Henderson 14. Q3 was theirs, 35-24, the deficit cut from 16 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 94-79 against them. Grant's -13 in 41 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/19 vs PHX 109-104 — POR notes
POR won 109-104. POR shot 45% (39 of 87) to PHX's 45%, 14 of 28 from three. Simons led with 23 (9 of 23, 2 of 7 from three); Grant added 22, Ayton 16. The hinge was Q3, 38-20: POR came in trailing by 12 and left it ahead by 6. POR trailed 49-61 at the half and won the second half 60-43. Thybulle was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
12/21 vs WAS 117-118 — POR notes
POR lost 117-118. POR took 11 more shots (95 to 84), fed by 20 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to WAS's 50%, 14 of 30 from three, and got to the line 23 times to WAS's 32. The glass went 51-37 for them. Simons led with 41 (15 of 28, 7 of 14 from three); Ayton added 23, Grant 20. Q4 was theirs, 37-25, the deficit cut from 13 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 93-80 against them. Brogdon's -16 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 @ GSW 106-126 — POR notes
POR lost 106-126. POR shot 45% (38 of 84) to GSW's 58%, 13 of 35 from three. POR turned it over 11 times to GSW's 16. The glass went 30-49 against them. Simons led with 25 (7 of 17, 7 of 13 from three); Brogdon added 17, Grant 17. Q1 was theirs, 30-23, but the other 3 periods went 103-76 against them. They led by as many as 11. Walker's -25 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 vs SAC 130-113 — POR notes
POR won 130-113. POR shot 50% (49 of 98) to SAC's 48%, 16 of 40 from three. Simons led with 29 (12 of 25, 5 of 12 from three); Reath added 25, Brogdon 19. The hinge was Q2, 35-27: POR came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 7, and the lead reached 20. Thybulle was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
12/28 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Simons at 28 and Grant at 20 a game. Without Sharpe (3 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 133, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Johnson at 19 and Vassell at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Portland allowing 116 a night to San Antonio's 133 and the arc, Portland at 42 percent from three to San Antonio's 35. Call it Portland 121, San Antonio 112.
12/29 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 116, shooting 44 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Simons at 30 and Grant at 20 a game. Without Sharpe (4 straight), Ayton (2 straight), Rupert (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Johnson at 18 and Wembanyama at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-2 a night and San Antonio minus-5 and the arc, Portland at 40 percent from three to San Antonio's 34. Call it Portland 119, San Antonio 112.
1/01 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Booker at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Eubanks (3 straight), Bates-Diop (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 42 from three, 25 free throws a game; Simons at 32 and Grant at 21 a game. Without Simons (2 straight), Sharpe (5 straight), Ayton (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Phoenix 118, Portland 114, Portland keeping it close.
1/03 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Dončić at 37 and Hardaway Jr. at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Kleber (26 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Brogdon at 20 and Grant at 20 a game. Without Simons (3 straight), Ayton (4 straight), Reath (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been minus-2 a night and Dallas minus-9. Call it Dallas 118, Portland 113.
12/18 vs WAS 143-131 — SAC notes
SAC won 143-131. SAC shot 53% (53 of 100) to WAS's 52%, 17 of 43 from three. Fox led with 30 (10 of 19, 2 of 7 from three, 8 of 12 at the line); Sabonis added 28, Murray 25. The hinge was Q2, 39-25: SAC came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 10, and the lead reached 26. Sabonis was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
12/20 vs BOS 119-144 — SAC notes
SAC lost 119-144. SAC shot 47% (43 of 91) to BOS's 55%, 21 of 44 from three. The glass went 37-50 against them. Fox led with 29 (9 of 16, 6 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Sabonis added 13, Murray 13. Q1 was theirs, 41-38, but the other 3 periods went 106-78 against them. They led by as many as 12. Sabonis's -25 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/22 vs PHX 120-105 — SAC notes
SAC won 120-105. SAC shot 53% (44 of 83) to PHX's 44%, 12 of 38 from three. Sabonis led with 28 (12 of 15); Fox added 23, Murray 21. The hinge was Q3, 38-30: a lead of 11 became 19, and the lead reached 29. Sabonis was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
12/23 vs MIN 98-110 — SAC notes
SAC lost 98-110. SAC shot 44% (37 of 85) to MIN's 51%, 8 of 33 from three, and went to the line 21 times to MIN's 14 — 16 points from the stripe to their 12. Fox led with 27 (10 of 23, 3 of 11 from three); Murray added 20, Sabonis 17. Q3 was theirs, 23-22, the deficit cut from 12 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 88-75 against them. Huerter's -19 in 15 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 @ POR 113-130 — SAC notes
SAC lost 113-130. SAC shot 48% (45 of 93) to POR's 50%, 10 of 42 from three. Fox led with 43 (16 of 26, 7 of 15 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Sabonis added 34. Q1 was theirs, 33-32, but the other 3 periods went 98-80 against them. Monk's -21 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/29 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Young at 28 and Murray at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Hunter (3 straight), Krejčí (2 straight), Fernando (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Sabonis at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Atlanta giving it away 13 times a game to Sacramento's 9. Call it Atlanta 123, Sacramento 119, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/31 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Bane at 27 and Morant at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Jackson (6 straight), Kennard (20 straight), LaRavia (6 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Fox at 31 and Sabonis at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 14 times a game to Sacramento's 10 and the glass, where Memphis has been minus-4 a night and Sacramento minus-9. Call it Memphis 116, Sacramento 114, Sacramento keeping it close.
1/02 vs CHA — 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 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Sabonis at 23 a game. One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Rozier at 26 and Bridges at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Ball (16 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Sacramento allowing 109 a night to Charlotte's 118 and the arc, Charlotte at 38 percent from three to Sacramento's 33. Call it Sacramento 120, Charlotte 108, Sacramento by 12.
1/03 vs ORL — 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 111 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; Fox at 31 and Sabonis at 22 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 27 and Banchero at 25 a game. Without Fultz (25 straight), Ingles (9 straight), Isaac (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the line, where Orlando takes 25 free throws a game to Sacramento's 17. Call it Sacramento 115, Orlando 111, Orlando keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PORAS A. Simons
DR D. Reath
IW I. Wainright
JG J. Grant
JW J. Walker
MB M. Brogdon
MB M. Brown
MT M. Thybulle
SH S. Henderson
TC T. Camara
SACAV A. Vezenkov
CD C. Duarte
DF D. Fox
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
JM J. McGee
JT J. Toscano-Anderson
KE K. Ellis
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
TL T. Lyles
POR/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
Simons, Reath lead the Trail Blazers past the Kings, 130-113
PORTLAND, Ore. -- — Anfernee Simons scored 29 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 130-113 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.
Duop Reath added a career-high 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds off the bench for the Blazers, who were without starting center Deandre Ayton (right knee tendinitis) and shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe (right adductor strain). Malcolm Brogdon scored 19 points, while Scoot Henderson and Jabari Walker each had 17 off the bench.
“We talked about how we needed to get off to better starts and play better at home,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “And we did that today. We did a really good job of that.”
Henderson added a career-high 11 assists and had only one turnover in one of his strongest games of his pro career.
“I’m an unselfish player and somebody that just makes plays,” Henderson said. “I just had to go out there and be confident and get the (win) by any means.”
De’Aaron Fox scored 43 points and Domantas Sabonis had 34 points, but no other Sacramento players scored in double figures.
“We didn’t do a good job defensively,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “That’s been our Achilles heel for a while. We give up 130 points and allow their bench to get going the way they did, it made for a long night.”
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: Back-to-back matchups against San Antonio at home on Thursday and Friday.
Kings: Visit Atlanta on Friday.
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: Back-to-back matchups against San Antonio at home on Thursday and Friday.