Game ID: 22300264
LA Clippers @ Sacramento Kings
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 10:00 PM ET
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAC 27 23 31 36 117LAC 35 37 30 29 131
LAC @ SAC ScoutingLAC @ 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 11/20 · 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
SAC availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restBACK Fox back 11/13 after 5, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Mitchell back 11/19 after 3, 14 min since (91% of 15)
SAC availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Ellis missed 2 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 11/19 after 3, 13 min since (82% of 15)
SAC availability going into 11/28 · 3 days' restOUT Murray missed 2 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Ellis missed 3 since 11/20, returns tonight: 6 min (33% of 17)
BACK Mitchell back 11/19 after 3, 12 min since (76% of 15)
NEW Duarte 12 to 19 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 11/29 · back-to-backOUT Murray missed 3 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 11/28 after 3, 6 min since (33% of 17)
BACK Mitchell back 11/19 after 3, 11 min since (73% of 15)
NEW Duarte 12 to 19 min over the last 5
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)
LAC availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Plumlee missed 6 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Coffey back 11/20 after 3, 4 min since (20% of 21)
BACK Hyland back 11/20 after 3, 4 min since (30% of 14)
LAC availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Plumlee missed 7 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Coffey back 11/20 after 3, 7 min since (35% of 21)
BACK Hyland back 11/20 after 3, 4 min since (30% of 14)
LAC availability going into 11/25 · back-to-backOUT Plumlee missed 8 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 11/22, returns tonight: 4 min (27% of 14)
BACK Coffey back 11/20 after 3, 7 min since (35% of 21)
LAC availability going into 11/27 · 1 day's restOUT Plumlee missed 9 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Coffey back 11/20 after 3, 6 min since (31% of 21)
BACK Hyland back 11/20 after 3, 4 min since (29% of 14)
LAC availability going into 11/29 · 1 day's restOUT Plumlee missed 10 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Coffey back 11/20 after 3, 6 min since (31% of 21)
BACK Hyland back 11/20 after 3, 4 min since (29% of 14)
LAC availability going into 11/30 · back-to-backOUT Plumlee missed 11 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 11/25 after 2, 2 min since (18% of 14)
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
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 119, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; Fox at 27 and Sabonis at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Murray (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 104, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; George at 23 and Leonard at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 104 a night to Sacramento's 119 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-3 a night and Sacramento minus-5. Call it the Clippers 113, Sacramento 112, Sacramento keeping it close.
11/20 @ NOP 93-129 — SAC notes
SAC lost 93-129. SAC shot 38% (33 of 87) to NOP's 54%, 11 of 45 from three. The glass went 36-55 against them. Barnes led with 16 (4 of 9, 3 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Fox added 14, Sabonis 10. Q1 was theirs, 31-29, but the other 3 periods went 100-62 against them. Sabonis's -36 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/22 @ NOP 112-117 — SAC notes
SAC lost 112-117. SAC shot 45% (34 of 76) to NOP's 47%, 15 of 44 from three. SAC turned it over 15 times to NOP's 10, and NOP turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 38-48 against them. Fox led with 26 (9 of 17, 2 of 7 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Sabonis added 23, Barnes 22. Q4 was theirs, 33-24, the deficit cut from 14 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 93-79 against them. Fox's -14 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/24 @ MIN 124-111 — SAC notes
SAC won 124-111. SAC shot 49% (49 of 100) to MIN's 44%, 17 of 35 from three, and got to the line 11 times to MIN's 29. SAC turned it over 13 times to MIN's 18. Fox led with 36 (14 of 32, 3 of 7 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Barnes added 18, Monk 17. The hinge was Q1, 38-31: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
11/28 vs GSW 124-123 — SAC notes
SAC won 124-123. SAC shot 45% (41 of 91) to GSW's 48%, 15 of 44 from three, and went to the line 42 times to GSW's 30 — 27 points from the stripe to their 26. SAC turned it over 10 times to GSW's 18. Fox led with 29 (9 of 20, 2 of 8 from three, 9 of 17 at the line); Huerter added 21, Monk 21. The hinge was Q4, 29-19: SAC came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 1. SAC trailed 55-72 at the half and won the second half 69-51. Vezenkov was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
11/29 vs LAC 117-131 — SAC notes
SAC lost 117-131. SAC shot 47% (40 of 86) to LAC's 54%, 13 of 41 from three, and went to the line 28 times to LAC's 22 — 24 points from the stripe to their 17. SAC turned it over 14 times to LAC's 4, and LAC turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 47-37 for them. Fox led with 40 (14 of 23, 3 of 8 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Monk added 15, Vezenkov 13. Q4 was theirs, 36-29, the deficit cut from 21 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 102-81 against them. Sabonis's -19 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/02 vs DEN — 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 122, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Fox at 29 and Barnes at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Murray (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 32 and Porter Jr. at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Gordon (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 113 a night to Sacramento's 122 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-1 a night and Sacramento minus-5. Call it Denver 116, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/04 vs NOP — 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 120 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Fox at 31 and Monk at 18 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 28 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and Ingram at 21 a game. Without Nance Jr. (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 38 percent from three to New Orleans's 32 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 113 a night to Sacramento's 120. Call it Sacramento 117, New Orleans 115, New Orleans keeping it close.
12/08 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Booker at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Beal (11 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Monk at 20 a game. Without Mitchell (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 112 a night to Sacramento's 122. Call it Phoenix 117, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/11 vs BKN — 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 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Monk at 19 a game. 2 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Bridges at 28 and Thomas at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Simmons (14 straight), Walker IV (3 straight), Clowney (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-11 a night and Sacramento plus-2 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 109 a night to Sacramento's 121. Call it Brooklyn 117, Sacramento 116, Sacramento keeping it close.
11/22 @ SAS 109-102 — LAC notes
LAC won 109-102. LAC shot 46% (39 of 85) to SAS's 38%, 9 of 28 from three, and went to the line 29 times to SAS's 23 — 22 points from the stripe to their 21. Leonard led with 26 (10 of 17, 2 of 6 from three); George added 24, Harden 16. The hinge was Q1, 26-14: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Theis was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
11/24 vs NOP 106-116 — LAC notes
LAC lost 106-116. LAC shot 46% (42 of 92) to NOP's 49%, 11 of 37 from three, and got to the line 17 times to NOP's 27. The glass went 39-50 against them. George led with 34 (14 of 30, 4 of 12 from three); Leonard added 20, Powell 20. Q2 was theirs, 32-20, the deficit cut from 13 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 96-74 against them. Zubac's -18 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/25 vs DAL 107-88 — LAC notes
LAC won 107-88. LAC shot 43% (38 of 88) to DAL's 37%, 8 of 29 from three, and went to the line 31 times to DAL's 14 — 23 points from the stripe to their 11. The glass went 57-37 for them. George led with 25 (9 of 19, 2 of 5 from three); Mann added 17, Powell 15. The hinge was Q1, 29-18: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Leonard was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
11/27 vs DEN 104-113 — LAC notes
LAC lost 104-113. LAC shot 41% (35 of 85) to DEN's 48%, 6 of 20 from three, and went to the line 34 times to DEN's 28 — 28 points from the stripe to their 15. Leonard led with 31 (10 of 26, 2 of 5 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Zubac added 23, Westbrook 14. Q3 was theirs, 32-19, turning a 2-point deficit into a 11-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 94-72 against them. They led by as many as 11.
11/29 @ SAC 131-117 — LAC notes
LAC won 131-117. LAC shot 54% (50 of 93) to SAC's 47%, 14 of 28 from three, and got to the line 22 times to SAC's 28. LAC turned it over 4 times to SAC's 14. The glass went 37-47 against them. Leonard led with 34 (14 of 18, 2 of 3 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Harden added 26, George 19. The hinge was Q2, 37-23: a lead of 8 became 22, and the lead reached 25. Zubac was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
11/30 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 27 free throws a game; Curry at 27 and Thompson at 19 a game. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and George at 22 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 107 a night to Golden State's 121 and the arc, Golden State at 42 percent from three to the Clippers' 34. Call it Golden State 115, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.
12/02 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 2-3 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 23 and George at 20 a game. Without Tucker (2 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 29 free throws a game; Curry at 28 and Thompson at 20 a game. Without Jackson-Davis (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, Golden State giving it away 14 times a game to the Clippers' 9 and the arc, Golden State at 42 percent from three to the Clippers' 35. Call it the Clippers 116, Golden State 112, Golden State keeping it close.
12/06 vs DEN — 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 114 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 23 and George at 18 a game. Without Tucker (3 straight). 3 days' rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 116, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 32 and Jackson at 22 a game. Without Murray (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 110 a night to Denver's 116. Call it the Clippers 115, Denver 113, Denver keeping it close.
12/08 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 116, shooting 41 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 13 and Sexton at 13 a game. Without Markkanen (6 straight), Clarkson (3 straight), Olynyk (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 25 and Harden at 19 a game. Without Coffey (2 straight), Tucker (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Utah giving it away 16 times a game to the Clippers' 9 and the arc, the Clippers at 39 percent from three to Utah's 34. Call it the Clippers 115, Utah 110.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SACAV A. Vezenkov
CD C. Duarte
CJ C. Jones
DF D. Fox
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
JM J. McGee
KE K. Edwards
KH K. Huerter
MM M. Monk
TL T. Lyles
LACBH 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
SAC/LAC 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 and Harden combine for 60 points as Clippers top Kings, 131-117
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- — Kawhi Leonard had 34 points and seven assists, James Harden scored 26 and the Los Angeles Clippers overcame a big game by De’Aaron Fox to beat the Sacramento Kings 131-117 on Wednesday night.
Paul George added 19 points and seven assists for the Clippers, who defeated the Kings for the first time since October 2022.
All five Los Angeles starters scored in double figures, something Leonard said is key to getting the Clippers going consistently.
“It’s not about just me, Paul and James or ( Russell Westbrook ),” Leonard said. “It’s about the whole collective group. There’s going to be nights when I’m double-teamed or the defense isn’t letting me play. I have to allow myself to let them win the game. We did a good job of getting to our spots, being aggressive.”
Fox scored 40 points on 14-of-23 shooting for Sacramento, which was coming off an emotional win over Golden State that advanced the Kings to the knockout round of the In-Season Tournament.
The Clippers still made their mark defensively, limiting the Kings to 22 assists while forcing 14 turnovers.
“We changed defenses a couple times in that first half and our team did a good job with understanding what we’re trying to do,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “It was a lot different from the Denver game.”
The Clippers were coming off a 113-104 loss Monday to the Nuggets, who played without Nikola Jokic , but were the aggressor against the Kings most of the night.
Leonard shot 14 of 18 from the field, including 2 for 3 on 3-pointers. Harden was 8 of 14, including 5 of 8 on 3s.
Leonard and Westbrook repeatedly drove the lane and scored down low while keeping Sacramento’s defense off balance.
Westbrook had nine points and eight assists while coming off the bench again for Los Angeles. He also became the third active NBA player to reach 38,000 minutes played. Earlier this week, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career record in that category.
Westbrook scored on an easy layup in the fourth quarter, then did his ‘rock the baby’ celebration, drawing boos from the Golden 1 Center crowd.
The biggest problem for the Kings, however, was on offense.
Sacramento trailed by 25 early in the third quarter and never got closer than 13 points after that.
Sacramento pulled to 113-100 on Malik Monk’s 3-pointer before the Clippers pulled away. Leonard hit a 3 and then made a spinning jumper in the lane to cap a 12-1 run.
Harden got the Clippers going early with four 3-pointers and 17 points in the first quarter, more than he totaled in his previous five games.
The Kings got within 54-47 before Los Angeles closed the half on a big run, taking a 72-50 lead on Leonard’s step-back jumper from the left corner as time expired.
Consecutive dunks from Leonard and Ivaca Zubic early in the third quarter extended the Clippers’ lead to 81-56.
“Man, that was a butt whipping,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “Give the Clippers credit. They did everything they needed to do to come in here and get a win.”
UP NEXT
Clippers: Play the Warriors at Chase Center on Thursday.
Kings: Face the Nuggets in Denver on Saturday. Sacramento last won a road game in that series on Dec. 23, 2020.