Game ID: 22300803
San Antonio Spurs @ Sacramento Kings
Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAC 30 35 28 34 127SAS 32 25 30 35 122
SAC vs SAS ScoutingSAC vs SAS 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 2/09 · 1 day's restBACK Ellis back 2/05 after 7, 3 min since (19% of 17)
BACK Duarte back 2/05 after 5, 3 min since (26% of 12)
BACK Vezenkov back 2/07 after 7, 6 min since (45% of 12)
NEW Huerter 24 to 31 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 2/11 · 1 day's restOUT Duarte missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 2/05 after 7, 4 min since (26% of 17)
BACK Vezenkov back 2/07 after 7, 11 min since (86% of 12)
SAC availability going into 2/13 · 1 day's restOUT Duarte missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 2/05 after 7, 9 min since (51% of 17)
BACK Vezenkov back 2/07 after 7, 11 min since (86% of 12)
SAC availability going into 2/14 · back-to-backOUT Duarte missed 4 since 2/07, returns tonight: 8 min (64% of 12)
OUT Vezenkov missed 2 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 2/05 after 7, 8 min since (49% of 17)
SAC availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Vezenkov missed 3 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Duarte back 2/14 after 4, 8 min since (64% of 12)
SAC availability going into 2/25 · 2 days' restOUT Vezenkov missed 4 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Duarte back 2/14 after 4, 14 min since (114% of 12)
SAC availability going into 2/26 · back-to-backOUT Ellis missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Vezenkov missed 5 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Duarte back 2/14 after 4, 15 min since (119% of 12)
SAC availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Ellis missed 3 since 2/22, returns tonight: 8 min (48% of 17)
OUT Vezenkov missed 6 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Duarte back 2/14 after 4, 15 min since (124% of 12)
SAC availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT Vezenkov missed 7 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 2/28 after 3, 8 min since (48% of 17)
BACK Duarte back 2/14 after 4, 17 min since (141% of 12)
SAS availability going into 2/08 · back-to-backOUT Graham missed 7 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 3 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 19 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/03 after 2, 23 min since (79% of 30)
BACK Collins back 2/02 after 3, 19 min since (85% of 22)
BACK Branham back 1/31 after 3, 12 min since (58% of 21)
NEW Osman 18 to 23 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 8 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 4 since 2/02, returns tonight: 12 min (94% of 13)
OUT Cissoko missed 20 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/03 after 2, 24 min since (80% of 30)
BACK Collins back 2/02 after 3, 21 min since (93% of 22)
BACK Branham back 1/31 after 3, 14 min since (65% of 21)
SAS availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 9 since 1/26, returns tonight: 6 min (46% of 14)
OUT Cissoko missed 21 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/03 after 2, 25 min since (85% of 30)
BACK Collins back 2/02 after 3, 18 min since (80% of 22)
BACK Barlow back 2/10 after 4, 12 min since (94% of 13)
SAS availability going into 2/14 · 1 day's restOUT Cissoko missed 22 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/03 after 2, 26 min since (87% of 30)
BACK Graham back 2/12 after 9, 6 min since (46% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 2/10 after 4, 12 min since (94% of 13)
SAS availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Barlow missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 23 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Graham back 2/12 after 9, 6 min since (43% of 14)
NEW Wesley 14 to 21 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backOUT Barlow missed 3 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 24 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Graham back 2/12 after 9, 6 min since (43% of 14)
NEW Wesley 14 to 21 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 25 since 1/02, out tonight
SAS availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 5 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 26 since 1/02, out tonight
SAS availability going into 2/29 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 4 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 27 since 1/02, out tonight
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 119 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sabonis at 25 and Fox at 22 a game. 7 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Vassell at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 7 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-2 a night and San Antonio minus-5 and the arc, Sacramento at 36 percent from three to San Antonio's 31. Call it Sacramento 120, San Antonio 112.
2/09 vs DEN 135-106 — SAC notes
SAC won 135-106. SAC shot 59% (51 of 87) to DEN's 46%, 17 of 34 from three, and got to the line 18 times to DEN's 28. Monk led with 23 (9 of 13, 3 of 7 from three); Sabonis added 17, K. Murray 17. The hinge was Q2, 35-22: SAC came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 10, and the lead reached 32. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
2/11 @ OKC 113-127 — SAC notes
SAC lost 113-127. SAC shot 49% (44 of 90) to OKC's 54%, 16 of 42 from three, and got to the line 13 times to OKC's 27. SAC turned it over 18 times to OKC's 9, and OKC turned those into 8 steals. Monk led with 26 (10 of 20, 6 of 10 from three); Sabonis added 21, Fox 15. Q4 was theirs, 30-27, the deficit cut from 17 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 100-83 against them. Fox's -27 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/13 @ PHX 125-130 — SAC notes
SAC lost 125-130. SAC took 10 more shots (95 to 85), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 52% to PHX's 52%, 9 of 31 from three, and got to the line 24 times to PHX's 36. The glass went 50-39 for them. Fox led with 40 (14 of 31, 5 of 12 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Sabonis added 35, Monk 22. Q2 was theirs, 28-26, but the other 3 periods went 104-97 against them. They led by as many as 11. Fox's -9 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/14 @ DEN 102-98 — SAC notes
SAC won 102-98. SAC shot 44% (39 of 89) to DEN's 39%, 9 of 33 from three. Fox led with 30 (12 of 26, 2 of 7 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Sabonis added 20, Barnes 20. The hinge was Q3, 30-21: the deficit went from 12 to 3. SAC trailed 41-53 at the half and won the second half 61-45. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
2/22 vs SAS 127-122 — SAC notes
SAC won 127-122. SAC shot 56% (52 of 93) to SAS's 51%, 13 of 33 from three. Fox led with 28 (12 of 18, 2 of 6 from three); Sabonis added 22, Huerter 21. The hinge was Q2, 35-25: SAC came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 8. Sabonis was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
2/25 @ 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 110 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 22 and George at 21 a game. Without Theis (3 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 117, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 26 and Sabonis at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-5 a night and the Clippers minus-4 and the line, where the Clippers take 24 free throws a game to Sacramento's 18. Call it the Clippers 117, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.
2/26 vs MIA — 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 117, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 29 and Sabonis at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Ellis (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 102, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Adebayo at 21 and Herro at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Rozier (3 straight), Richardson (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 102 a night to Sacramento's 117. Call it Sacramento 114, Miami 113, Miami keeping it close.
2/28 @ 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 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 25 and Porter Jr. at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Sabonis at 22 a game. Without Ellis (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 108 a night to Sacramento's 116 and the arc, Sacramento at 36 percent from three to Denver's 31. Call it Denver 117, Sacramento 112.
3/01 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 99, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Edwards at 32 and Towns at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 16 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Sabonis at 17 a game. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 99 a night to Sacramento's 113. Call it Minnesota 115, Sacramento 108.
2/08 @ ORL 111-127 — SAS notes
SAS lost 111-127. SAS shot 52% (42 of 81) to ORL's 60%, 11 of 35 from three. The glass went 27-39 against them. Vassell led with 30 (11 of 18, 3 of 7 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Wembanyama added 15, Collins 12. Q3 was theirs, 41-37, the deficit cut from 17 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 90-70 against them. Sochan's -26 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/10 @ BKN 103-123 — SAS notes
SAS lost 103-123. SAS shot 40% (36 of 91) to BKN's 56%, 11 of 34 from three, and went to the line 21 times to BKN's 11 — 20 points from the stripe to their 8. Wembanyama led with 21 (7 of 16, 3 of 6 from three); Johnson added 19, Vassell 17. Q4 was theirs, 28-30, but the other 3 periods went 93-75 against them. Jones's -22 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/12 @ TOR 122-99 — SAS notes
SAS won 122-99. SAS shot 53% (46 of 87) to TOR's 40%, 11 of 30 from three, and went to the line 23 times to TOR's 16 — 19 points from the stripe to their 13. Wembanyama led with 27 (10 of 14, 2 of 4 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Vassell added 25, Sochan 16. The hinge was Q2, 33-22: a lead of 6 became 17, and the lead reached 31. Johnson was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
2/14 @ DAL 93-116 — SAS notes
SAS lost 93-116. SAS took 8 more shots (100 to 92), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 36% to DAL's 53%, 10 of 40 from three. The glass went 44-55 against them. Wembanyama led with 26 (10 of 21, 2 of 6 from three); Branham added 19, Vassell 11. Q1 was theirs, 32-25, but the other 3 periods went 91-61 against them. They led by as many as 15. Johnson's -27 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/22 @ SAC 122-127 — SAS notes
SAS lost 122-127. SAS shot 51% (50 of 98) to SAC's 56%, 11 of 25 from three. Vassell led with 32 (13 of 18, 3 of 4 from three); Wembanyama added 19, Johnson 18. Q1 was theirs, 32-30, but the other 3 periods went 97-90 against them.
2/23 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 119, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Davis at 27 and James at 24 a game. They have lost the glass by 7 a night. Without James (2 straight), Reddish (12 straight), Vanderbilt (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Vassell at 23 and Wembanyama at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 26 free throws a game to San Antonio's 18 and the arc, the Lakers at 38 percent from three to San Antonio's 33. Call it the Lakers 121, San Antonio 114.
2/25 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 130, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Sexton at 22 and Markkanen at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Juzang (4 straight). 2 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 24 and Vassell at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-7 a night and San Antonio minus-2 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 118 a night to Utah's 130. Call it Utah 120, San Antonio 117, San Antonio keeping it close.
2/27 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 100, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 31 and Towns at 22 a game. 2 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 24 and Vassell at 21 a game. That is 4 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 100 a night to San Antonio's 119 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-4 a night and San Antonio minus-1. Call it Minnesota 118, San Antonio 107, Minnesota by 11.
2/29 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 22 and Vassell at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 106, shooting 53 percent and 46 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 106 a night to San Antonio's 122 and the arc, OKC at 46 percent from three to San Antonio's 37. Call it OKC 122, San Antonio 111, OKC by 11.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SACAL A. Len
CD C. Duarte
DF D. Fox
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
TL T. Lyles
SASBW B. Wesley
CO C. Osman
DV D. Vassell
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
MB M. Branham
TJ T. Jones
VW V. Wembanyama
ZC Z. Collins
SAC/SAS 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
Domantas Sabonis has 19th triple-double to help Kings beat Spurs 127-122
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- — Domantas Sabonis had his NBA-leading 19th triple-double with 22 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds, De’Aaron Fox added 28 points and nine assists and the Sacramento Kings beat the San Antonio Spurs 127-122 on Thursday night.
Sabonis was a game-time decision due to illness, then ended up with his fourth triple-double in five games. He has had at least a double-double in 38 straight games.
“You don’t want to become numb to what he’s doing,” Fox said. “That’s not normal. It’s only been done a few times in this game.”
Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk each added 21 points.
“It’s really the home stretch,” Huerter said. “The rest of the season from here on out will fly by and we need every game. We’re in a dogfight here in the West. We can feel the urgency of every game.”
Devin Vassell led San Antonio with 32 points, and Victor Wembanyama had 19 points, 13 rebounds, five steals and four blocks. Keldon Johnson added 18 points, with 12 coming in the fourth quarter. The Spurs lost for the ninth time in 10 games.
“Our goal is obviously to get better, get some wins,” Vassell said. “That’s the main thing. That’s been the main thing since we started the season. Obviously, we haven’t been great at that. So just trying to turn this thing around these last 26 games now.”
The Kings outscored San Antonio 35-25 in the second quarter to build a 65-57 halftime lead.
Sacramento pushed the advantage to 87-76 in the third quarter, but the Spurs came back to take a 117-116 lead on a three-point play by Wembanyama with 2:53 remaining.
Vassell pushed the lead to four with a 3-pointer on the next possession. The Kings responded with a 9-0 spurt to put the game out of reach.
“Our guys just kind of found a way tonight,” Sacramento coach Mike Brown said. “It wasn’t pretty at all, and you give a lot of credit to San Antonio. They played a heck of a game.”
Sacramento shot 56% from the field, while San Antonio finished at 51%. The Spurs outscored the Kings in the paint 72-70, and each team had 42 rebounds.
“At this point in the season, obviously you want wins,” Fox said. “You don’t care how they come. ... We were able to execute down the stretch, and that was big for us.”
UP NEXT
Spurs: At the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Kings: At the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night.