Game ID: 22300358
Washington Wizards @ Sacramento Kings
Monday, December 18, 2023 at 10:00 PM ET
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAC 27 39 46 31 143WAS 31 25 35 40 131
SAC vs WAS ScoutingSAC vs WAS 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 12/11 · 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
SAC availability going into 12/23 · back-to-back
full strength
SAC availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' rest
full strength
WAS availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Shamet missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 13 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Muscala back 12/06 after 3, 11 min since (75% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/08 after 9, 4 min since (30% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/13 · 1 day's restOUT Shamet missed 3 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 14 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 3 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Muscala back 12/06 after 3, 14 min since (98% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/08 after 9, 10 min since (80% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Shamet missed 4 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 15 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 4 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Muscala back 12/06 after 3, 11 min since (81% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/08 after 9, 8 min since (64% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Shamet missed 5 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 16 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 5 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Muscala back 12/06 after 3, 13 min since (91% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/08 after 9, 7 min since (54% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/18 · back-to-backOUT Shamet missed 6 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 17 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 6 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/08 after 9, 7 min since (54% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/21 · 2 days' restOUT Shamet missed 7 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 18 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 2 since 12/17, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 7 since 12/06, out tonight
WAS availability going into 12/22 · back-to-backOUT Shamet missed 8 since 12/06, returns tonight: 13 min (80% of 16)
OUT Wright missed 19 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 3 since 12/17, returns tonight: 8 min (58% of 13)
OUT Davis missed 8 since 12/06, out tonight
WAS availability going into 12/26 · 3 days' restOUT Wright missed 20 since 11/12, returns tonight: 13 min (97% of 14)
OUT Davis missed 9 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 13 min since (80% of 16)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/22 after 3, 8 min since (58% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Davis missed 10 since 12/06, returns tonight: 6 min (51% of 12)
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 10 min since (66% of 16)
BACK Wright back 12/26 after 20, 13 min since (97% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/22 after 3, 8 min since (58% of 13)
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.
12/11 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 125-104 — SAC notes
SAC won 125-104. SAC shot 54% (46 of 85) to UTA's 44%, 22 of 45 from three, and got to the line 15 times to UTA's 21. Murray led with 47 (16 of 23, 12 of 15 from three); Sabonis added 20, Monk 18. The hinge was Q3, 44-26: a lead of 12 became 30. Sabonis was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
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 — 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.
12/23 vs MIN — 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 127 a night and allowing 121, shooting 51 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 31 and Murray at 24 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 22 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and Towns at 25 a game. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 111 a night to Sacramento's 121 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-3 a night and Sacramento minus-1. Call it Minnesota 117, Sacramento 116, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/26 @ 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 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.
12/11 @ PHI 101-146 — WAS notes
WAS lost 101-146. WAS shot 42% (36 of 85) to PHI's 55%, 9 of 31 from three, and went to the line 31 times to PHI's 25 — 20 points from the stripe to their 22. WAS turned it over 22 times to PHI's 13, and PHI turned those into 14 steals. Kuzma led with 21 (9 of 17); Coulibaly added 13, Butler 12. Q4 was theirs, 34-34, but the other 3 periods went 112-67 against them. Coulibaly's -33 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/13 vs NOP 122-142 — WAS notes
WAS lost 122-142. WAS shot 51% (42 of 82) to NOP's 52%, 19 of 44 from three, and got to the line 24 times to NOP's 30. WAS turned it over 15 times to NOP's 9, and NOP turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 33-46 against them. Kuzma led with 27 (10 of 19, 4 of 8 from three); Coulibaly added 16, Avdija 13. Q1 was theirs, 30-28, but the other 3 periods went 114-92 against them. They led by as many as 15. Kispert's -35 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/15 vs IND 137-123 — WAS notes
WAS won 137-123. WAS shot 57% (52 of 92) to IND's 45%, 13 of 27 from three, and went to the line 26 times to IND's 16 — 20 points from the stripe to their 12. Kuzma led with 31 (11 of 23, 4 of 9 from three, 5 of 8 at the line); Poole added 30, Kispert 23. The hinge was Q2, 39-18: WAS came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 14, and the lead reached 24. Kispert was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/17 @ PHX 108-112 — WAS notes
WAS lost 108-112. WAS shot 41% (39 of 95) to PHX's 46%, 14 of 46 from three, and got to the line 20 times to PHX's 30. WAS turned it over 10 times to PHX's 17. The glass went 44-54 against them. Gafford led with 26 (10 of 13, 6 of 7 at the line); Jones added 22, Kuzma 17. Q1 was theirs, 29-21, but the other 3 periods went 91-79 against them. They led by as many as 16. Kispert's -16 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/18 @ SAC 131-143 — WAS notes
WAS lost 131-143. WAS shot 52% (44 of 85) to SAC's 53%, 18 of 38 from three. Poole led with 28 (10 of 18, 8 of 13 from three); Kuzma added 27, Jones 16. Q4 was theirs, 40-31, the deficit cut from 21 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 112-91 against them. Gafford's -27 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/21 @ 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 117 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Grant at 26 and Simons at 25 a game. Without Murray (3 straight), Mays (3 straight), Rupert (11 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 133, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Kuzma at 25 and Poole at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Shamet (7 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Portland allowing 121 a night to Washington's 133. Call it Portland 122, Washington 117.
12/22 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Curry at 24 and Thompson at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Green (4 straight), Payton II (9 straight). 2 days' rest. Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 127, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 26 free throws a game; Kuzma at 27 and Poole at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Shamet (8 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-5 a night and Washington minus-7 and the line, where Washington takes 26 free throws a game to Golden State's 20. Call it Golden State 125, Washington 117.
12/26 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 125, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Kuzma at 23 and Poole at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. 3 days' rest. Orlando comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 23 and F. Wagner at 19 a game. Without Suggs (2 straight), Fultz (20 straight), Ingles (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Orlando has been plus-2 a night and Washington minus-8 and the arc, Washington at 39 percent from three to Orlando's 30. Call it Washington 118, Orlando 117, Orlando keeping it close.
12/27 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Poole at 22 and Kuzma at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Barnes at 24 and Siakam at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Freeman-Liberty (27 straight), Young (4 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Toronto wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Toronto has been minus-1 a night and Washington minus-8 and the defense, Toronto allowing 117 a night to Washington's 126. Call it Toronto 119, Washington 117, Washington keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
WASAG A. Gill
BC B. Coulibaly
CK C. Kispert
DA D. Avdija
DG D. Gafford
EO E. Omoruyi
JB J. Butler
JP J. Poole
KK K. Kuzma
MM M. Muscala
TJ T. Jones
SACAV A. Vezenkov
CD C. Duarte
CJ C. Jones
DF D. Fox
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
JT J. Toscano-Anderson
KE K. Edwards
KE K. Ellis
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
TL T. Lyles
WAS/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
Another triple-double for Domantas Sabonis sends Kings past Wizards 143-131
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- — Domantas Sabonis had his 35th career triple-double with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists as the Sacramento Kings beat the Washington Wizards 143-131 on Monday night.
De’Aaron Fox scored 12 of his 30 points during Sacramento’s 46-point third quarter, and Keegan Murray added 25 on a night when six Kings scored in double figures. Harrison Barnes had 19, Kevin Huerter 14 and Malik Monk finished with 10 as Sacramento (16-9) won for the fourth time in five games.
That type of offense bodes well for a Kings team trying to make back-to-back playoff appearances after an NBA-record 16-season drought.
“When you have multiple guys playing at a high level in the same game, it’s extremely hard to beat us,” Fox said. “We want to be able to consistently be able to play at this level. That’s the type of work we put in. We’re just continuing to play the right way. And we continue to go out and become a better defensive team.”
Sabonis fell three assists or fewer shy of a triple-double in his previous three games. He had extra motivation against the Wizards — the game came one day before his father’s birthday. Arvydas Sabonis is a former NBA player and Hall of Famer who spent seven seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers .
“Just trying to play the right way, being aggressive and just reading the game,” Domantas Sabonis said. “Tonight I really wanted to get it. My present is going to be delayed, so hopefully the win and a triple-double counts.”
The Wizards put up a tough challenge before fading at the end. Washington shot better than 50% overall (44 of 85), made 18 3-pointers and allowed only eight points off 12 turnovers.
Jordan Poole matched his career high with eight 3-pointers and scored 28 points for the Wizards. Kyle Kuzma added 27, but Washington (4-22) has lost 17 of its last 19 games.
Sabonis’ night included his eighth straight double-double and 21st in 25 games. The triple-double was his 17th in a Kings uniform, the most in the franchise’s Sacramento era.
The big man scored 20 points in the first half, including nine of Sacramento’s final 18 before the break.
“Domas was a monster,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “Him playing the right way with the people we have on this team, he can fall into a triple-double.”
The Wizards tied it 40-all in the second quarter but couldn’t keep up after that and trailed for the final 30 minutes.
Fox, held out of Saturday’s win against Utah with a sore right shoulder, needs eight assists to break Mike Bibby’s Sacramento-ERA team record of 2,580.
Poole, who has scored in double figures in nine of his last 10 games, kept the Wizards close but Washington was never able to get over the hump.
“They just look more together,” Poole said of the Kings. “They’ve been building this for seven, eight years. They have all the right pieces.”
The Kings led by 10 at halftime and then pulled away during their 46-point third quarter. Barnes provided 13 points and Fox had 12, including a pair of three-point plays.
UP NEXT
Wizards: Continue their West Coast swing at Portland on Thursday.
Kings: Host the Celtics on Wednesday. Sacramento has lost four straight to Boston.