Game ID: 22300290
Denver Nuggets @ Sacramento Kings
Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 10:00 PM ET
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAC 25 39 24 35 123DEN 30 20 28 39 117
DEN @ SAC ScoutingDEN @ 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 11/22 · 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)
SAC availability going into 12/12 · back-to-backBACK Murray back 12/02 after 4, 30 min since (88% of 34)
BACK Mitchell back 12/08 after 2, 2 min since (11% of 15)
BACK Duarte back 12/08 after 2, 2 min since (16% of 12)
DEN availability going into 11/26 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 9 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 9 since 11/06, returns tonight: 12 min (114% of 11)
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 13 min since (86% of 15)
NEW Jackson 21 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 27 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/27 · back-to-backOUT Murray missed 10 since 11/06, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 20 min since (136% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 12 min since (114% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/29 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 11 since 11/06, returns tonight: 22 min (69% of 33)
OUT Gordon missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 25 min since (167% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 23 min since (212% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 32 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 3 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Murray back 11/29 after 11, 22 min since (69% of 33)
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 25 min since (171% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 17 min since (159% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 30 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/02 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 4 since 11/26, returns tonight: 33 min (101% of 32)
BACK Murray back 11/29 after 11, 22 min since (69% of 33)
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 25 min since (171% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 16 min since (150% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 29 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Murray missed 2 since 12/01, returns tonight: 29 min (89% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/02 after 4, 33 min since (101% of 32)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 15 min since (138% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 15 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 11 to 16 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restBACK Murray back 11/29 after 11, 26 min since (79% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/02 after 4, 32 min since (99% of 32)
NEW Jackson 21 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 15 to 24 min over the last 4
DEN availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restBACK Murray back 11/29 after 11, 28 min since (85% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/02 after 4, 29 min since (89% of 32)
NEW Jackson 21 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/12 · back-to-backBACK Murray back 12/06 after 2, 30 min since (92% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/02 after 4, 29 min since (89% of 32)
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.
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 123-117 — SAC notes
SAC won 123-117. SAC shot 48% (48 of 99) to DEN's 49%, 16 of 34 from three. Fox led with 26 (10 of 22, 3 of 6 from three); Monk added 26, Sabonis 17. The hinge was Q2, 39-20: SAC came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 14, and the lead reached 17. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
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.
12/12 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and George at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Coffey (4 straight), Tucker (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Monk at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 113 a night to Sacramento's 120 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-0. Call it the Clippers 118, Sacramento 114, Sacramento keeping it close.
11/26 vs SAS 132-120 — DEN notes
DEN won 132-120. DEN shot 56% (50 of 89) to SAS's 45%, 12 of 28 from three. The glass went 45-35 for them. Jokić led with 39 (17 of 29); Porter Jr. added 25, Jackson 20. The hinge was Q3, 35-24: a lead of 12 became 23, and the lead reached 28. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
11/27 @ LAC 113-104 — DEN notes
DEN won 113-104. DEN shot 48% (44 of 92) to LAC's 41%, 10 of 22 from three, and got to the line 28 times to LAC's 34. Jackson led with 35 (15 of 19, 3 of 4 from three); Jordan added 21, Caldwell-Pope 12. The hinge was Q4, 36-16: DEN came in trailing by 11 and left it ahead by 9. Jackson was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
11/29 vs HOU 134-124 — DEN notes
DEN won 134-124. DEN shot 51% (48 of 95) to HOU's 55%, 19 of 43 from three, and went to the line 26 times to HOU's 19 — 19 points from the stripe to their 14. DEN turned it over 3 times to HOU's 8. Jokić led with 32 (12 of 19, 7 of 8 at the line); Porter Jr. added 30, Murray 16. The hinge was Q1, 41-26: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
12/01 @ PHX 119-111 — DEN notes
DEN won 119-111. DEN shot 57% (50 of 88) to PHX's 46%, 12 of 32 from three, and got to the line 12 times to PHX's 26. The glass went 32-43 against them. Jokić led with 21 (9 of 18, 0 of 3 from three, 3 of 6 at the line); Jackson added 20, Porter Jr. 19. The hinge was Q1, 41-30: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +8.
12/02 @ SAC 117-123 — DEN notes
DEN lost 117-123. DEN shot 49% (49 of 99) to SAC's 48%, 6 of 25 from three. Jokić led with 36 (13 of 23, 1 of 4 from three, 9 of 12 at the line); Jackson added 20, Gordon 17. Q1 was theirs, 30-25, but the other 3 periods went 98-87 against them. Jordan's -17 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/06 @ LAC — 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 vs HOU — 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 117 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Jackson at 21 a game. One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Ja. Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Thompson (14 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Denver minus-2 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 14 times a game to Denver's 9. Call it Denver 113, Houston 110, Houston keeping it close.
12/11 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 127, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Young at 30 and Murray at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Johnson (6 straight), Fernando (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Murray at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. 2 days' rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 117 a night to Atlanta's 127. Call it Atlanta 119, Denver 118, Denver keeping it close.
12/12 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 43 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 28 and White at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without LaVine (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 25 and Murray at 24 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been plus-8 a night and Denver minus-1 and the arc, Chicago at 43 percent from three to Denver's 36. Call it Chicago 116, Denver 113, Denver keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SACAV A. Vezenkov
DF D. Fox
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
JM J. McGee
KE K. Ellis
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
TL T. Lyles
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
DJ D. Jordan
JH J. Holiday
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RJ R. Jackson
SAC/DEN 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 overcome Jokic's 8th triple-double of the season, beat Nuggets 123-117
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- — De’Aaron Fox had 26 points and a career-high 16 assists, Malik Monk made a clutch 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter and the Sacramento Kings beat the Denver Nuggets 123-117 on Saturday night to spoil Nikola Jokic’s NBA-leading eighth triple-double.
The Kings led comfortably most of the might before Denver made its best run of the night to get to 112-110 with four minutes left on Jokic’s only 3-pointer of the game.
Fox then made a contested jumper in the key, before Monk’s corner 3-pointer with 1:11 helped seal it as chants of “Light the beam! Light the beam” broke out inside Golden 1 Center.
“Fantastic, fantastic night from our best player when we needed it the most,” Kings coach Mike Brown said about Fox. “He has to step up in games like this for us to win.”
Jokic finished with 36 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds, the 114th career triple-double for Denver’s big man. The rest of the NBA had eight triple-doubles combined going into the night.
“You’re never going to stop (Jokic) with just one guy. A lot of times, even with the whole team, you probably won’t stop him,” Fox said. “You just want to make sure the other guys don’t really get it going. When they do, it’s pretty much pick your poison with that team.”
Reggie Jackson scored 20 points for the Nuggets, who looked much crisper on offense with Aaron Gordon back in the lineup after missing four games with a right heel sprain. Gordon had 17 points and seven rebounds.
It wasn’t enough as the Kings ended the Nuggets’ hopes of winning a third consecutive road game for the first time since the playoffs last season.
“I think our fifth game in seven nights had a lot to do with it,” Nuggets coach Mike Malone said. “We lost the game in the second quarter. That’s where the game got away.”
Jokic gave the Nuggets an early boost with 16 points in the first quarter as Denver led 30-25.
When Jokic went to the bench in the second quarter, the Kings went on a 17-4 run punctuated by Monk’s drive and pass to JaVale McGee for an easy dunk.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: At Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.
Kings: Host New Orleans on Monday night in the NBA In-Season Tournament.