Game ID: 22300400
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Sacramento Kings
Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 10:00 PM ET
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAC 20 27 23 28 98MIN 28 31 22 29 110
MIN @ SAC ScoutingMIN @ 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 12/16 · 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
SAC availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's rest
full strength
SAC availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restBACK Edwards back 12/06 after 2, 25 min since (70% of 36)
BACK McDaniels back 12/11 after 8, 26 min since (85% of 30)
BACK McLaughlin back 12/11 after 15, 5 min since (48% of 11)
NEW Brown Jr. 11 to 26 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 12/18 · 1 day's restBACK Edwards back 12/06 after 2, 27 min since (76% of 36)
BACK McDaniels back 12/11 after 8, 23 min since (76% of 30)
BACK McLaughlin back 12/11 after 15, 5 min since (43% of 11)
NEW Brown Jr. 11 to 23 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restBACK McDaniels back 12/11 after 8, 25 min since (82% of 30)
BACK McLaughlin back 12/11 after 15, 5 min since (43% of 11)
NEW Brown Jr. 11 to 19 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 12/21 · back-to-backBACK McDaniels back 12/11 after 8, 27 min since (91% of 30)
BACK McLaughlin back 12/11 after 15, 4 min since (37% of 11)
MIN availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restNEW McDaniels 30 to 35 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Milton missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT McLaughlin missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 12 min (109% of 11)
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.
12/16 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 120-105 — SAC notes
SAC won 120-105. SAC shot 53% (44 of 83) to PHX's 44%, 12 of 38 from three. Sabonis led with 28 (12 of 15); Fox added 23, Murray 21. The hinge was Q3, 38-30: a lead of 11 became 19, and the lead reached 29. Sabonis was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
12/23 vs MIN 98-110 — SAC notes
SAC lost 98-110. SAC shot 44% (37 of 85) to MIN's 51%, 8 of 33 from three, and went to the line 21 times to MIN's 14 — 16 points from the stripe to their 12. Fox led with 27 (10 of 23, 3 of 11 from three); Murray added 20, Sabonis 17. Q3 was theirs, 23-22, the deficit cut from 12 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 88-75 against them. Huerter's -19 in 15 minutes was the worst on the floor.
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.
12/31 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Bane at 27 and Morant at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Jackson (6 straight), Kennard (20 straight), LaRavia (6 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Fox at 31 and Sabonis at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 14 times a game to Sacramento's 10 and the glass, where Memphis has been minus-4 a night and Sacramento minus-9. Call it Memphis 116, Sacramento 114, Sacramento keeping it close.
1/02 vs CHA — 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 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Sabonis at 23 a game. One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Rozier at 26 and Bridges at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Ball (16 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Sacramento allowing 109 a night to Charlotte's 118 and the arc, Charlotte at 38 percent from three to Sacramento's 33. Call it Sacramento 120, Charlotte 108, Sacramento by 12.
12/16 vs IND 127-109 — MIN notes
MIN won 127-109. MIN shot 56% (48 of 86) to IND's 50%, 18 of 30 from three. Towns led with 40 (15 of 25, 2 of 3 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Edwards added 37, Reid 17. The hinge was Q3, 38-23: a lead of 2 became 17, and the lead reached 26. Reid was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
12/18 @ MIA 112-108 — MIN notes
MIN won 112-108. MIN shot 49% (42 of 85) to MIA's 47%, 11 of 29 from three. Edwards led with 32 (13 of 25, 2 of 9 from three); Towns added 18, Conley 14. The hinge was Q4, 35-25: MIN came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 4. MIN trailed 54-65 at the half and won the second half 58-43. Alexander-Walker was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
12/20 @ PHI 113-127 — MIN notes
MIN lost 113-127. MIN shot 51% (42 of 82) to PHI's 54%, 9 of 25 from three, and got to the line 24 times to PHI's 32. MIN turned it over 18 times to PHI's 12, and PHI turned those into 9 steals. Edwards led with 27 (9 of 20, 2 of 6 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Towns added 23, McDaniels 21. Q3 was theirs, 27-26, the deficit cut from 4 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 101-86 against them. Reid's -27 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/21 vs LAL 118-111 — MIN notes
MIN won 118-111. MIN shot 48% (42 of 87) to LAL's 49%, 14 of 36 from three. Edwards led with 27 (9 of 19, 2 of 6 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Towns added 21, Conley 16. The hinge was Q1, 36-32: from level to 4 ahead. Towns was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/23 @ SAC 110-98 — MIN notes
MIN won 110-98. MIN shot 51% (44 of 87) to SAC's 44%, 10 of 33 from three, and got to the line 14 times to SAC's 21. Edwards led with 34 (13 of 27, 3 of 12 from three); Gobert added 21, McDaniels 20. The hinge was Q1, 28-20: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Conley was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
12/26 @ OKC — 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 122 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Holmgren at 18 a game. 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Edwards at 31 and Towns at 26 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 41 percent from three to OKC's 35 and the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 14 times a game to OKC's 11. Call it OKC 116, Minnesota 114, Minnesota keeping it close.
12/28 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Towns at 20 a game. One day's rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Dončić at 39 and Hardaway Jr. at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Irving (10 straight), Kleber (23 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-4 a night and Dallas minus-9 and the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 16 times a game to Dallas's 10. Call it Minnesota 117, Dallas 113, Dallas keeping it close.
12/30 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 31 and Towns at 18 a game. One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 120, shooting 50 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Davis at 28 and James at 24 a game. Without Vincent (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 17 times a game to the Lakers' 12 and the line, where Minnesota takes 26 free throws a game to the Lakers' 19. Call it Minnesota 116, the Lakers 113, the Lakers keeping it close.
1/01 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 128, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 27 free throws a game; Brunson at 29 and Randle at 28 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Robinson (11 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 32 and Gobert at 16 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 New York's 128 and the arc, Minnesota at 40 percent from three to New York's 35. Call it Minnesota 116, New York 114, New York keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINAE A. Edwards
JM J. McDaniels
KA K. Anderson
MC M. Conley
MC McLaughlin
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RG R. Gobert
SM S. Milton
TB T. Brown Jr.
SACAV A. Vezenkov
CD C. Duarte
CJ C. Jones
DF D. Fox
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
JM J. McGee
KE K. Ellis
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
TL T. Lyles
MIN/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
Anthony Edwards scores 34 points as the Timberwolves beat the Kings 110-98
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- — Anthony Edwards had 34 points and 10 assists, Rudy Gobert added 21 points and 17 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Sacramento Kings 110-98 on Saturday night.
Jaden McDaniels had 20 points and Kyle Anderson scored 10 for the Timberwolves in place of star center Karl-Anthony Towns , who sat out with left knee soreness. Minnesota improved to 22-6, tied with Boston for the best record in the NBA.
“I think it’s starting to hit for a lot of us. We always kind of felt that we could compete with anybody. Now we've won a whole bunch of different ways," Minnesota point guard Mike Conley said.
"We’ve learned to win and come back late in games. When you take a step back and look at it, that’s a recipe for success on how to win later in the season. We’re going to continue to grow and guys are going to continue to learn from what we’ve done so far.”
De’Aaron Fox had 27 points and six assists for Sacramento. Domantas Sabonis finished with a triple-double of 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Kings shot 8 of 33 from beyond the arc, the fewest 3-pointers they've made in a game this season. Minnesota outrebounded Sacramento 43-40 and forced 11 turnovers.
“They’re long and athletic,” Fox said. “They get you off the line, and having Rudy back there makes you think twice about getting to the rim.”
After the Kings cut their deficit to 11 going into the fourth quarter, Minnesota went on a 12-2 run to open the period.
Sacramento trimmed it to 100-95 on a layup by Trey Lyles with two minutes left. But on the next Kings possession, Lyles threw away a pass that was stolen by Edwards and he threw down a dunk that made it 104-95.
“We knew they were going to make shots and the crowd was going to get into it, but as long as we got into our stuff we were going to be alright," Edwards said.
Sacramento tied it at 30 with under nine minutes left in the second quarter, but the Timberwolves closed the half with a 29-17 surge to go into the break with a 59-47 advantage.
The Timberwolves led by as many as 13 in the first quarter after Edwards hit a running layup to make it 28-15 at the 1:25 mark.
“We knew they were on a back-to-back,” Edwards said. “We definitely wanted to up the tempo.”