Game ID: 22300191
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Sacramento Kings
Monday, November 13, 2023 at 10:00 PM ET
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAC 33 35 42 22 132CLE 25 35 29 31 120
CLE @ SAC ScoutingCLE @ 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.
SAC availability going into 11/04 · 2 days' restOUT Ellis missed 3 since 10/27, returns tonight: 1 min (8% of 17)
SAC availability going into 11/06 · 1 day's restOUT Fox missed 2 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 11/04 after 3, 1 min since (8% of 17)
NEW Duarte 12 to 18 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 11/08 · 1 day's restOUT Fox missed 3 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 11/04 after 3, 8 min since (46% of 17)
NEW Mitchell 15 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Duarte 12 to 18 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 11/10 · 1 day's restOUT Fox missed 4 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 11/04 after 3, 12 min since (72% of 17)
NEW Mitchell 15 to 25 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 11/13 · 2 days' restOUT Fox missed 5 since 11/01, returns tonight: 36 min (100% of 36)
BACK Ellis back 11/04 after 3, 17 min since (99% of 17)
NEW Mitchell 15 to 25 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 11/15 · 1 day's restBACK Fox back 11/13 after 5, 36 min since (100% of 36)
BACK Ellis back 11/04 after 3, 16 min since (93% of 17)
NEW Mitchell 15 to 24 min over the last 4
SAC availability going into 11/17 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 11/13, out tonight
BACK Fox back 11/13 after 5, 37 min since (103% of 36)
NEW Huerter 24 to 33 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 11/19 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 3 since 11/13, returns tonight: 8 min (56% of 15)
BACK Fox back 11/13 after 5, 38 min since (107% of 36)
NEW Huerter 24 to 33 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 11/20 · back-to-backBACK Fox back 11/13 after 5, 37 min since (102% of 36)
BACK Mitchell back 11/19 after 3, 8 min since (56% of 15)
NEW Huerter 24 to 31 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 11/03 · 1 day's restOUT Garland missed 4 since 10/27, returns tonight: 32 min (95% of 34)
BACK Merrill back 10/28 after 2, 10 min since (59% of 17)
BACK Thompson back 10/28 after 2, 13 min since (123% of 11)
NEW LeVert 28 to 34 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 11/05 · 1 day's restOUT Merrill missed 2 since 11/01, returns tonight: 1 min (7% of 17)
BACK Garland back 11/03 after 4, 32 min since (95% of 34)
BACK Thompson back 10/28 after 2, 11 min since (99% of 11)
NEW LeVert 28 to 34 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 11/08 · 2 days' restOUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 11/03, out tonight
BACK Garland back 11/03 after 4, 31 min since (92% of 34)
BACK Merrill back 10/28 after 2, 7 min since (41% of 17)
BACK Thompson back 10/28 after 2, 11 min since (100% of 11)
NEW LeVert 28 to 34 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 11/11 · 2 days' restOUT Okoro missed 2 since 11/05, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 3 since 11/03, returns tonight: 2 min (12% of 13)
BACK Garland back 11/03 after 4, 33 min since (97% of 34)
BACK Merrill back 11/05 after 2, 1 min since (7% of 17)
CLE availability going into 11/13 · 1 day's restOUT Okoro missed 3 since 11/05, out tonight
OUT Merrill missed 2 since 11/08, returns tonight: 3 min (18% of 17)
BACK Garland back 11/03 after 4, 34 min since (99% of 34)
BACK Porter Jr. back 11/11 after 3, 2 min since (12% of 13)
CLE availability going into 11/15 · 1 day's restOUT Okoro missed 4 since 11/05, out tonight
BACK Garland back 11/03 after 4, 34 min since (99% of 34)
BACK Merrill back 11/05 after 2, 2 min since (12% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 11/11 after 3, 2 min since (18% of 13)
CLE availability going into 11/17 · 1 day's restOUT Okoro missed 5 since 11/05, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 11/05 after 2, 2 min since (11% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 11/11 after 3, 5 min since (36% of 13)
CLE availability going into 11/19 · 1 day's restOUT Okoro missed 6 since 11/05, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 11/13 after 2, 2 min since (10% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 11/11 after 3, 7 min since (58% of 13)
CLE availability going into 11/21 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 7 since 11/05, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 11/13 after 2, 7 min since (43% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 11/11 after 3, 11 min since (86% of 13)
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 103 a night and allowing 109, shooting 42 percent and 30 from three, 24 free throws a game; Sabonis at 17 and Monk at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Fox (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 31 free throws a game; Mitchell at 28 and LeVert at 18 a game. Without Okoro (3 straight), Merrill (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-5 a night and Cleveland minus-2 and the line, where Cleveland takes 31 free throws a game to Sacramento's 24. Call it Sacramento 111, Cleveland 110, Cleveland keeping it close.
11/04 @ HOU 89-107 — SAC notes
SAC lost 89-107. SAC shot 38% (32 of 84) to HOU's 46%, 11 of 41 from three. The glass went 43-53 against them. Monk led with 18 (6 of 13, 3 of 7 from three); Barnes added 13, McGee 12. Q2 was theirs, 34-26, the deficit cut from 14 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 81-55 against them. Sabonis's -26 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/06 @ HOU 97-122 — SAC notes
SAC lost 97-122. SAC shot 44% (36 of 81) to HOU's 57%, 14 of 40 from three, and got to the line 20 times to HOU's 27. Ellis led with 15 (5 of 7, 4 of 6 from three); Huerter added 13, Murray 12. Q4 was theirs, 37-25, the deficit cut from 37 to 25, but the other 3 periods went 97-60 against them. Mitchell's -30 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/08 vs POR 121-118 — SAC notes
SAC won 121-118 in 1 overtime. SAC shot 46% (41 of 89) to POR's 51%, 11 of 37 from three, and went to the line 38 times to POR's 29 — 28 points from the stripe to their 22. The glass went 50-36 for them. Sabonis led with 27 (11 of 14, 5 of 7 at the line); Monk added 23, Huerter 17. The hinge was Q1, 34-29: from level to 5 ahead. SAC trailed 56-60 at the half and won the second half 65-58. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +8.
11/10 vs OKC 105-98 — SAC notes
SAC won 105-98. SAC shot 42% (38 of 91) to OKC's 45%, 13 of 47 from three. The glass went 52-38 for them. Huerter led with 28 (11 of 19, 4 of 10 from three); Murray added 24, Sabonis 17. The hinge was Q1, 34-20: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 17.
11/13 vs CLE 132-120 — SAC notes
SAC won 132-120. SAC shot 59% (49 of 83) to CLE's 49%, 20 of 42 from three. Fox led with 28 (11 of 20, 2 of 6 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); Murray added 25, Sabonis 23. The hinge was Q3, 42-29: a lead of 8 became 21. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
11/15 @ 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 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; James at 24 and Davis at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Vincent (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; Sabonis at 17 and Huerter at 16 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 40 percent from three to Sacramento's 33 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-2 a night and the Lakers minus-3. Call it the Lakers 114, Sacramento 113, Sacramento keeping it close.
11/17 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 127, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 16 and Vassell at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Jones (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Huerter at 21 and Sabonis at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Mitchell (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Sacramento allowing 114 a night to San Antonio's 127 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-5 a night and San Antonio minus-3. Call it Sacramento 119, San Antonio 112.
11/19 @ 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 129 a night and allowing 126, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and Irving at 30 a game. Without Kleber (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Fox at 33 and Sabonis at 25 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Mitchell (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the defense, Sacramento allowing 113 a night to Dallas's 126 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-6 a night and Dallas minus-1. Call it Dallas 121, Sacramento 120, Sacramento keeping it close.
11/20 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 42 from three, 25 free throws a game; Ingram at 25 and Williamson at 22 a game. Without McCollum (7 straight), Nance Jr. (3 straight), Alvarado (2 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 112, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Sabonis at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it New Orleans 117, Sacramento 116, Sacramento keeping it close.
11/03 @ IND 116-121 — CLE notes
CLE lost 116-121. CLE shot 52% (44 of 84) to IND's 52%, 8 of 28 from three. CLE turned it over 13 times to IND's 18. Mitchell led with 38 (13 of 21, 4 of 7 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Mobley added 14, Garland 14. Q3 was theirs, 34-18, the deficit cut from 17 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 103-82 against them. Okoro's -19 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/05 vs GSW 115-104 — CLE notes
CLE won 115-104. CLE shot 49% (41 of 83) to GSW's 36%, 11 of 37 from three. CLE turned it over 18 times to GSW's 13, and GSW turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 54-44 for them. Mitchell led with 31 (11 of 19, 5 of 11 from three); Garland added 24, Strus 15. The hinge was Q2, 28-15: CLE came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 12. Garland was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
11/08 @ OKC 120-128 — CLE notes
CLE lost 120-128. CLE shot 51% (42 of 83) to OKC's 51%, 9 of 29 from three, and went to the line 37 times to OKC's 30 — 27 points from the stripe to their 28. LeVert led with 29 (7 of 14, 2 of 6 from three, 13 of 16 at the line); Mobley added 22, Mitchell 20. Q4 was theirs, 33-29, the deficit cut from 12 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 99-87 against them. LeVert's -14 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/11 @ GSW 118-110 — CLE notes
CLE won 118-110. CLE shot 43% (37 of 86) to GSW's 41%, 11 of 30 from three, and went to the line 43 times to GSW's 30 — 33 points from the stripe to their 23. CLE turned it over 10 times to GSW's 20. The glass went 45-55 against them. LeVert led with 22 (8 of 18, 2 of 7 from three); Mitchell added 21, Garland 19. The hinge was Q2, 38-21: CLE came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 16. LeVert was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
11/13 @ SAC 120-132 — CLE notes
CLE lost 120-132. CLE took 8 more shots (91 to 83), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 49% to SAC's 59%, 16 of 35 from three. Mitchell led with 22 (7 of 21, 4 of 9 from three); LeVert added 21, Strus 19. Q4 was theirs, 31-22, the deficit cut from 21 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 110-89 against them. Allen's -25 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/15 @ POR — 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 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Grant at 28 and Sharpe at 19 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Simons (9 straight), Brogdon (2 straight), Henderson (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 30 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and LeVert at 19 a game. Without Okoro (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Cleveland takes 30 free throws a game to Portland's 22 and the glass, where Cleveland has been minus-1 a night and Portland minus-5. Call it Cleveland 114, Portland 112, Portland keeping it close.
11/17 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 29 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and LeVert at 19 a game. Without Okoro (5 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Cunningham at 19 and Hayes at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Duren (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Cleveland takes 29 free throws a game to Detroit's 22 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 114 a night to Detroit's 120. Call it Cleveland 117, Detroit 111.
11/19 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and LeVert at 20 a game. Without Okoro (6 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 33 and Porter Jr. at 18 a game. Without Murray (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 37 percent from three to Denver's 31 and the line, where Cleveland takes 28 free throws a game to Denver's 21. Call it Cleveland 113, Denver 112, Denver keeping it close.
11/21 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Embiid at 32 and Maxey at 28 a game. Without Oubre Jr. (5 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 109, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Garland at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Mitchell (2 straight), Okoro (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 109 a night to Philadelphia's 118. Call it Philadelphia 117, Cleveland 113, Cleveland keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SACAL A. Len
AV A. Vezenkov
CD C. Duarte
DF D. Fox
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
JF J. Ford
JM J. McGee
KE K. Ellis
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
CLECL C. LeVert
CP C. Porter Jr.
DG D. Garland
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
GN G. Niang
JA J. Allen
MS M. Strus
PO Porter
SM S. Merrill
TT T. Thompson
SAC/CLE 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
De'Aaron Fox's return sparks Kings to 132-120 victory over Cavs as Mike Brown earns 400th win
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- — De’Aaron Fox had 28 points and six assists in his return after missing two weeks with an ankle injury, and the Sacramento Kings gave coach Mike Brown his 400th career victory with a 132-120 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night.
Domantas Sabonis added 23 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds for the Kings, who swept the Cavs a season ago. Keegan Murray had a season-high 25 points with five 3-pointers.
“It felt like tonight was kind of a night we’ve kind of been waiting on, where we put it together on the same night,” Murray said. “It felt like it flowed really well and it felt good for everyone.”
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 22 points despite going scoreless in the first quarter. Caris LeVert had 21 points and Max Strus scored 19.
Sacramento had six players in double figures but the night belonged to Fox, who was repeatedly serenaded with “MVP! MVP!” chants in the second half.
Fox made an immediate impact in his first game back, scoring the first points of the night on a driving layup 11 seconds into the game. A first-time All-Star last season, Fox later scored on a reverse and sank a 3-pointer to help the Kings to a 33-25 lead.
“It felt good just to be able to go out there and contribute,” said Fox, who tested his ankle in practice this week and during shootaround. “When I got up today and wasn’t sore, I felt I was good to go.
"I felt well enough to go out there and affect the game.”
That he did.
Fox came out strong again in the second quarter, then went cold late before giving Sacramento’s offense another spark in the third quarter. He had eight points, including an emphatic one-handed dunk off a bounce pass in the key from Malik Monk .
“His play and our play is going to start getting him the recognition he deserves,” Brown said of Fox. “The crazy part is he’s just scratched the surface of who he can be. When he gets there, look out.”
Brown, who led the Kings to the 2023 playoffs in his first season with the team, improved his coaching record to 400-254. The milestone win came against one of his former teams, as Brown coached Cleveland from 2005-10 and in the 2013-14 season.
“You feel all of the emotions: Fortunate, blessed, lucky,” said Brown, who thanked the Cavs, Lakers and several of the players he coached. “It has a lot to do with the people all around me.
"It for sure is an honor to be a part of something like that in this league.”
Cleveland got within 126-115 late in the fourth quarter before Fox’s three-point play with 1:26 remaining helped secure the win.
“We didn’t execute the game plan,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “If you allow teams like this, with the firepower that they have, to play freely, they’re going to get it going.”