Game ID: 22300373
Boston Celtics @ Sacramento Kings
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at 10:00 PM ET
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAC 41 25 24 29 119BOS 38 36 39 31 144
BOS @ SAC ScoutingBOS @ 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 12/12 · 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
SAC availability going into 12/29 · 2 days' rest
full strength
BOS availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 3 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/28 after 2, 35 min since (103% of 34)
BACK Porziņģis back 12/08 after 4, 30 min since (105% of 29)
BACK Brissett back 12/08 after 4, 0 min since (3% of 10)
BOS availability going into 12/15 · back-to-backOUT Queta missed 4 since 12/04, returns tonight: 18 min (163% of 11)
OUT Brissett missed 2 since 12/12, returns tonight: 16 min (149% of 10)
BACK Porziņģis back 12/08 after 4, 31 min since (105% of 29)
BOS availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Kornet missed 2 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 12/08 after 4, 31 min since (105% of 29)
BACK Queta back 12/15 after 4, 18 min since (163% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 12/08 after 4, 8 min since (76% of 10)
BOS availability going into 12/19 · 1 day's restOUT Kornet missed 3 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 12/08 after 4, 30 min since (104% of 29)
BACK Queta back 12/15 after 4, 17 min since (155% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 12/08 after 4, 6 min since (58% of 10)
BOS availability going into 12/20 · back-to-backOUT Kornet missed 4 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Queta back 12/15 after 4, 18 min since (165% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 12/15 after 2, 8 min since (75% of 10)
BOS availability going into 12/23 · 2 days' restOUT Kornet missed 5 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Queta back 12/15 after 4, 19 min since (166% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 12/15 after 2, 10 min since (96% of 10)
BOS availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Kornet missed 6 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Queta back 12/15 after 4, 19 min since (174% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 12/15 after 2, 12 min since (112% of 10)
BOS availability going into 12/28 · 2 days' restOUT Kornet missed 7 since 12/14, out tonight
NEW Queta 11 to 17 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 12/29 · back-to-backOUT Kornet missed 8 since 12/14, returns tonight: 33 min (227% of 15)
NEW Queta 11 to 18 min over the last 5
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.
12/12 @ 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 119-144 — SAC notes
SAC lost 119-144. SAC shot 47% (43 of 91) to BOS's 55%, 21 of 44 from three. The glass went 37-50 against them. Fox led with 29 (9 of 16, 6 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Sabonis added 13, Murray 13. Q1 was theirs, 41-38, but the other 3 periods went 106-78 against them. They led by as many as 12. Sabonis's -25 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
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.
12/29 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Young at 28 and Murray at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Hunter (3 straight), Krejčí (2 straight), Fernando (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Sabonis at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Atlanta giving it away 13 times a game to Sacramento's 9. Call it Atlanta 123, Sacramento 119, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/14 vs CLE 116-107 — BOS notes
BOS won 116-107. BOS shot 51% (43 of 85) to CLE's 48%, 13 of 36 from three. Tatum led with 27 (9 of 22, 3 of 10 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Brown added 22, Porziņģis 18. The hinge was Q1, 33-24: from level to 9 ahead. Holiday was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
12/15 vs ORL 128-111 — BOS notes
BOS won 128-111. BOS shot 52% (48 of 92) to ORL's 48%, 18 of 42 from three. BOS turned it over 10 times to ORL's 21. The glass went 34-45 against them. Tatum led with 30 (11 of 22, 2 of 9 from three, 6 of 9 at the line); Pritchard added 21, White 19. The hinge was Q3, 37-27: a lead of 13 became 23. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
12/17 vs ORL 114-97 — BOS notes
BOS won 114-97. BOS shot 47% (45 of 95) to ORL's 38%, 17 of 36 from three, and got to the line 8 times to ORL's 24. BOS turned it over 14 times to ORL's 8. The glass went 55-43 for them. Brown led with 31 (12 of 20, 5 of 8 from three); Tatum added 23, Porziņģis 15. The hinge was Q2, 34-19: BOS came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 11, and the lead reached 23. Horford was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
12/19 @ GSW 126-132 — BOS notes
BOS lost 126-132 in 1 overtime. BOS shot 41% (47 of 114) to GSW's 46%, 17 of 58 from three. White led with 30 (11 of 24, 7 of 18 from three); Brown added 28, Tatum 15. Q1 was theirs, 40-30, but the other 4 periods went 102-86 against them. They led by as many as 17.
12/20 @ SAC 144-119 — BOS notes
BOS won 144-119. BOS shot 55% (51 of 92) to SAC's 47%, 22 of 42 from three. The glass went 50-37 for them. White led with 28 (10 of 13, 6 of 9 from three); Brown added 28, Porziņģis 24. The hinge was Q3, 39-24: a lead of 8 became 23, and the lead reached 30. Hauser was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
12/23 @ 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 130 a night and allowing 121, shooting 54 percent and 43 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and George at 25 a game. They have won the glass by 4 a night. Without Tucker (12 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brown at 25 and Tatum at 24 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 25 free throws a game to Boston's 18 and the defense, Boston allowing 113 a night to the Clippers' 121. Call it the Clippers 119, Boston 118, Boston keeping it close.
12/25 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; James at 28 and Davis at 27 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Vincent (2 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brown at 26 and Tatum at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-5 a night and the Lakers minus-4 and the arc, Boston at 43 percent from three to the Lakers' 36. Call it Boston 120, the Lakers 114.
12/28 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brown at 26 and Tatum at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. 2 days' rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 128, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Cunningham at 32 and Bogdanović at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Hayes (4 straight), Livers (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-8 a night and Detroit minus-2 and the defense, Boston allowing 114 a night to Detroit's 128. Call it Boston 126, Detroit 111, Boston by 15.
12/29 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 134 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Porziņģis at 29 and Tatum at 25 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back. Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 112, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Siakam at 23 and Barnes at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Freeman-Liberty (28 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Toronto giving it away 14 times a game to Boston's 9 and the defense, Toronto allowing 112 a night to Boston's 119. Call it Boston 121, Toronto 114.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSDW D. White
JB J. Brown
JH J. Holiday
KP K. Porziņģis
LS L. Stevens
NQ N. Queta
OB O. Brissett
PP P. Pritchard
PO Porzingis
SH S. Hauser
SM S. Mykhailiuk
SACAV A. Vezenkov
CD C. Duarte
DF D. Fox
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
JM J. McGee
JT J. Toscano-Anderson
KE K. Edwards
KE K. Ellis
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
TL T. Lyles
BOS/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
Celtics bounce back from a tough loss to beat Kings 144-119
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- — Jaylen Brown and Derrick White each scored 28 points and the short-handed Boston Celtics bounced back from a disappointing loss at Golden State with a 144-119 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.
Boston blew a 17-point lead before losing to the Warriors in overtime Tuesday night and played without leading scorer Jayson Tatum (ankle) and big man Al Horford (rest) against the rested Kings.
But the Celtics looked like the far fresher team and rolled to their sixth win in seven games.
“It’s a long year. You have to have the proper perspective,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Of course, we’re not going to be happy if we lose. The great thing about playing 82 games is you get a chance to shake it off the next day.”
Kristaps Porzingis , who missed the game against Golden State because of a calf injury, dominated the interior for Boston with 24 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots.
The shooters led by White did the rest as the Celtics made 22 of 42 3-pointers after missing 41 of 58 attempts from long range in the loss to the Warriors.
“We had great shooters missing wide-open looks," White said. “You just have to trust that if you continue to get looks people will knock them down. We were able to make them today like we weren't yesterday. That's just the name of the game.”
De'Aaron Fox scored 29 points on his 26th birthday to lead the Kings, who had won three straight games.
The teams got off to a fast-shooting start with the Kings making 11 3-pointers in the first quarter and the Celtics answering with eight to tie for the most combined 3s ever in a quarter with a Mavericks-Warriors game from 2019. Sacramento led 41-38 after one.
But as the 3s stopped falling for the Kings, the Celtics started to take control. They made six more 3s in the second quarter as the 28 combined first-half 3s also tied the NBA record for a half set in that 2019 game.
Sacramento made only 10 3s in the final three quarters after making 11 in the first.
“We just kind of made an adjustment, just being there on the catch,” White said. “They play fast. They got a lot of talented players. We stepped up to the challenge.”
Boston opened up a 21-point lead in the third quarter when White and Jrue Holiday hit back-to-back 3s around a blocked shot by Porzingis.
Brown's dunk over Trey Lyles expanded the lead to 28 points late in the third for Boston. The Celtics coasted from there to their fifth straight win over the Kings.
“That was a good old fashion butt kicking,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. "Give the Celtics a lot credit especially coming off a back-to-back. They for sure didn’t look like the team that was waiting on us here.”