Game ID: 22300324
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Sacramento Kings
Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 10:00 PM ET
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAC 29 30 41 28 128OKC 30 23 39 31 123
OKC @ SAC ScoutingOKC @ 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 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)
SAC availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restBACK Murray back 12/02 after 4, 30 min since (89% of 34)
BACK Mitchell back 12/08 after 2, 6 min since (39% of 15)
BACK Duarte back 12/08 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 12)
SAC availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restBACK Mitchell back 12/08 after 2, 6 min since (39% of 15)
BACK Duarte back 12/08 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 12)
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
OKC availability going into 12/02 · 1 day's restOUT Micić missed 3 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Jal. Williams back 11/28 after 3, 32 min since (98% of 32)
BACK Dieng back 11/25 after 5, 5 min since (48% of 10)
OKC availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Micić missed 4 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 2 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Jal. Williams back 11/28 after 3, 31 min since (96% of 32)
NEW Joe 18 to 24 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Micić missed 5 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 3 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Jal. Williams back 11/28 after 3, 31 min since (98% of 32)
OKC availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Micić missed 6 since 11/25, returns tonight: 16 min (133% of 12)
OUT Dieng missed 4 since 11/30, returns tonight: 26 min (262% of 10)
BACK Jal. Williams back 11/28 after 3, 33 min since (103% of 32)
OKC availability going into 12/14 · 2 days' restBACK Micić back 12/11 after 6, 16 min since (133% of 12)
BACK Dieng back 12/11 after 4, 26 min since (262% of 10)
OKC availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restBACK Micić back 12/11 after 6, 16 min since (133% of 12)
BACK Dieng back 12/11 after 4, 18 min since (183% of 10)
OKC availability going into 12/18 · 1 day's restOUT Micić missed 2 since 12/14, returns tonight: 7 min (61% of 12)
BACK Dieng back 12/11 after 4, 14 min since (138% of 10)
OKC availability going into 12/21 · 2 days' restBACK Micić back 12/11 after 6, 12 min since (97% of 12)
BACK Dieng back 12/11 after 4, 15 min since (151% of 10)
OKC availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restBACK Micić back 12/11 after 6, 12 min since (97% of 12)
BACK Dieng back 12/11 after 4, 14 min since (136% of 10)
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 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Fox at 27 and Monk at 18 a game. One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been minus-0 a night and OKC minus-7 and the arc, Sacramento at 40 percent from three to OKC's 36. Call it OKC 119, Sacramento 118, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/04 vs NOP 117-127 — SAC notes
SAC lost 117-127. SAC shot 45% (38 of 85) to NOP's 54%, 14 of 41 from three, and went to the line 33 times to NOP's 23 — 27 points from the stripe to their 19. Fox led with 30 (10 of 25, 1 of 7 from three, 9 of 13 at the line); Sabonis added 26, Monk 21. Q1 was theirs, 36-35, but the other 3 periods went 92-81 against them. They led by as many as 15. Monk's -17 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 @ PHX 114-106 — SAC notes
SAC won 114-106. SAC shot 46% (42 of 92) to PHX's 48%, 14 of 39 from three. The glass went 50-40 for them. Fox led with 34 (11 of 24, 4 of 7 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Sabonis added 15, Vezenkov 14. The hinge was Q3, 33-12: SAC came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 12, and the lead reached 15. SAC trailed 50-59 at the half and won the second half 64-47. Monk was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
12/11 vs BKN 131-118 — SAC notes
SAC won 131-118. SAC shot 51% (48 of 94) to BKN's 48%, 25 of 45 from three, and got to the line 14 times to BKN's 21. Fox led with 29 (10 of 22, 5 of 10 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Murray added 24, Monk 21. The hinge was Q1, 26-18: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
12/12 @ LAC 99-119 — SAC notes
SAC lost 99-119. SAC shot 42% (36 of 86) to LAC's 52%, 10 of 37 from three. The glass went 38-49 against them. Murray led with 17 (6 of 14, 0 of 5 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Sabonis added 15, Fox 14. Q4 was theirs, 29-20, the deficit cut from 29 to 20, but the other 3 periods went 99-70 against them. Sabonis's -23 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/14 vs OKC 128-123 — SAC notes
SAC won 128-123. SAC shot 49% (47 of 95) to OKC's 43%, 18 of 45 from three, and got to the line 21 times to OKC's 27. Fox led with 41 (14 of 25, 5 of 11 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Sabonis added 18, Monk 18. The hinge was Q2, 30-23: SAC came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 6. Lyles was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/16 vs UTA — 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 119, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Sabonis at 18 a game. One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sexton at 19 and Horton-Tucker at 15 a game. Without Clarkson (2 straight), Collins (3 straight), Juzang (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 39 percent from three to Utah's 34 and the defense, Sacramento allowing 119 a night to Utah's 125. Call it Sacramento 121, Utah 114.
12/18 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 19 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Murray at 23 a game. One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 129, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Kuzma at 23 and Poole at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Shamet (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Sacramento allowing 114 a night to Washington's 129 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-2 a night and Washington minus-7. Call it Sacramento 125, Washington 113, Sacramento by 12.
12/20 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 43 from three, 20 free throws a game; Fox at 28 and Murray at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brown at 25 and Tatum at 24 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 112 a night to Sacramento's 119 and the arc, Sacramento at 43 percent from three to Boston's 38. Call it Sacramento 118, Boston 117, Boston keeping it close.
12/22 vs PHX — 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 123 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 28 and Murray at 23 a game. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Durant at 31 and Booker at 29 a game. Without Beal (2 straight), Okogie (4 straight), Bates-Diop (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 41 percent from three to Phoenix's 31 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-3 a night and Sacramento minus-2. Call it Sacramento 119, Phoenix 117, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/02 @ DAL 126-120 — OKC notes
OKC won 126-120. OKC shot 44% (44 of 100) to DAL's 45%, 20 of 44 from three, and got to the line 22 times to DAL's 35. Jal. Williams led with 23 (9 of 19, 3 of 5 from three); Gilgeous-Alexander added 17, Wallace 15. The hinge was Q2, 39-29: a lead of 6 became 16, and the lead reached 24. Jay. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/06 @ HOU 101-110 — OKC notes
OKC lost 101-110. OKC shot 43% (37 of 87) to HOU's 48%, 8 of 29 from three. OKC turned it over 8 times to HOU's 19. The glass went 30-53 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 33 (13 of 18, 7 of 9 at the line); Jal. Williams added 13, Wiggins 11. Q2 was theirs, 28-23, the deficit cut from 10 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 87-73 against them. Dort's -27 in 15 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 vs GSW 138-136 — OKC notes
OKC won 138-136 in 1 overtime. OKC shot 52% (51 of 98) to GSW's 47%, 5 of 29 from three, and went to the line 36 times to GSW's 23 — 31 points from the stripe to their 19. OKC turned it over 9 times to GSW's 28. The glass went 39-60 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 38 (15 of 30, 0 of 3 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Jal. Williams added 28, Holmgren 21. The hinge was Q3, 33-22: OKC came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 5. OKC trailed 56-62 at the half and won the second half 82-74. Joe was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
12/11 vs UTA 134-120 — OKC notes
OKC won 134-120. OKC shot 52% (50 of 96) to UTA's 48%, 18 of 38 from three. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 30 (12 of 17, 6 of 6 at the line); Dieng added 18, Holmgren 16. The hinge was Q3, 45-23: a lead of 14 became 36. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
12/14 @ SAC 123-128 — OKC notes
OKC lost 123-128. OKC shot 43% (44 of 102) to SAC's 49%, 11 of 36 from three, and went to the line 27 times to SAC's 21 — 24 points from the stripe to their 16. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 43 (13 of 27, 1 of 5 from three, 16 of 18 at the line); Giddey added 18, Dort 17. Q4 was theirs, 31-28, the deficit cut from 8 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 100-92 against them. Wallace's -18 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/16 @ DEN — 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 115 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murray at 22 and Jokić at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-2 a night and OKC minus-9 and the defense, Denver allowing 111 a night to OKC's 123. Call it Denver 118, OKC 115, OKC keeping it close.
12/18 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 27 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Jal. Williams at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 30 and Bane at 30 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Morant (24 straight), Smart (13 straight), Jackson (9 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the line, where OKC takes 27 free throws a game to Memphis's 20 and the defense, Memphis allowing 114 a night to OKC's 122. Call it OKC 119, Memphis 110.
12/21 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 27 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Holmgren at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 114, shooting 55 percent and 43 from three, 27 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Harden at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Tucker (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-6 a night and OKC minus-5 and the arc, the Clippers at 43 percent from three to OKC's 32. Call it OKC 120, the Clippers 118, the Clippers keeping it close.
12/23 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Holmgren at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Davis at 30 and James at 24 a game. That is 4 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it OKC 121, the Lakers 113.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
OKCAW A. Wiggins
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
DB D. Bertans
IJ I. Joe
JG J. Giddey
JW J. Williams
JW Jal. Williams
JW Jay. Williams
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
OD O. Dieng
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
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
OKC/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
De’Aaron Fox scores 41 points as Kings beat Thunder 128-123
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- — De’Aaron Fox scored 41 points and the Sacramento Kings beat Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder 128-123 on Thursday night.
Oklahoma City wasted a stellar performance by Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 43 points, nine assists and six rebounds.
The Kings led by 14 midway through the fourth quarter, but the Thunder cut the deficit to two with a 13-2 run. Fox and Keegan Murray answered with late baskets, and Sacramento stepped up its defense down the stretch.
It was the third 40-point performance this season for Fox, who also had seven assists and three rebounds while shooting 14 of 25 from the field.
“I didn’t feel like it was like one of the games where I was just like, hot,” Fox said. “I don’t really know how to describe it. When you're just in the moment, I can’t really say I'm thinking about it. ... I know I had a good game but I can’t say that I felt like I knew I had 40 already.”
The game featured two of the NBA's best young point guards in Gilgeous-Alexander and Fox, and both players delivered. Gilgeous-Alexander went 16 for 18 at the free-throw line, and Fox made five 3-pointers.
Kings coach Mike Brown said before the game it would be a fun matchup for fans to enjoy, even if he didn't get to appreciate it too much in the moment on the sideline.
“It's a fun matchup because you’re talking about two of the youngest stars in this league that are up-and-coming, and that should have some responsibility to bear the torch going forward,” Brown said.
The Kings, who were coming off a 119-99 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, have won eight in a row over the Thunder.
Domantas Sabonis had 18 points and 16 rebounds for Sacramento in the opener of a six-game homestand. Malik Monk also scored 18, and Keon Ellis had a career-high 17 points.
Ellis, an undrafted free agent who played sparingly last season, had a breakout game. The 23-year-old guard was 5 of 7 from 3-point range and closed out the game with the starters.
“It’s just crazy to think,” Ellis said. “Always the dream was just to make it to the NBA, but now everything that’s happening is just kind of wild to think of.”
The Thunder had won four of five coming in.
Gilgeous-Alexander had 14 points in the first quarter, including a driving layup in the final seconds that gave the Thunder a 30-29 lead at the end of one.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was proud of his team for executing even when shots weren't falling at first, and took solace in pulling within a possession late in the game.
“I thought the last four, five minutes, we did a tremendous job at that end of the floor just executing, understanding what we were trying to get done, taking what the defense gave us,” Daigneault said.
He added the team's attacks were much improved.
“Even in a loss, I think we can take that as a step forward in that area of the game,” Daigneault said.
Sacramento shot better than 50% from the floor in the first half, but Oklahoma City stayed in the game with help from Gilgeous-Alexander’s 20 points and by getting to the foul line, making 15 of 17 attempts.
The Kings opened a double-digit lead late in the first half on a three-point play by Fox. Sacramento led 59-53 at halftime.
UP NEXT
Thunder: Visit the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night.