Game ID: 22300908
San Antonio Spurs @ Sacramento Kings
Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAC 30 41 29 31 131SAS 31 28 36 34 129
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 2/28 · 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)
SAC availability going into 3/04 · 2 days' restOUT Fox missed 2 since 2/28, returns tonight: 39 min (108% of 36)
OUT Vezenkov missed 8 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 2/28 after 3, 13 min since (78% of 17)
SAC availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT Vezenkov missed 9 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Fox back 3/04 after 2, 39 min since (108% of 36)
BACK Ellis back 2/28 after 3, 13 min since (78% of 17)
SAC availability going into 3/07 · back-to-backOUT Vezenkov missed 10 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Fox back 3/04 after 2, 39 min since (109% of 36)
BACK Ellis back 2/28 after 3, 14 min since (79% of 17)
SAC availability going into 3/10 · 2 days' restOUT Duarte missed 2 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Vezenkov missed 11 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Fox back 3/04 after 2, 38 min since (105% of 36)
BACK Ellis back 2/28 after 3, 15 min since (84% of 17)
SAC availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Duarte missed 3 since 3/06, returns tonight: 11 min (89% of 12)
OUT Vezenkov missed 12 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Fox back 3/04 after 2, 37 min since (102% of 36)
SAC availability going into 3/13 · back-to-backOUT Vezenkov missed 13 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Fox back 3/04 after 2, 36 min since (100% of 36)
BACK Duarte back 3/12 after 3, 11 min since (89% of 12)
SAC availability going into 3/16 · 2 days' restOUT Vezenkov missed 14 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Duarte back 3/12 after 3, 9 min since (77% of 12)
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
SAS availability going into 3/03 · 2 days' restOUT Graham missed 5 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 7 since 2/12, returns tonight: 0 min (3% of 13)
OUT Cissoko missed 28 since 1/02, returns tonight: 0 min (3% of 12)
SAS availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 6 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Barlow back 3/03 after 7, 0 min since (3% of 13)
BACK Cissoko back 3/03 after 28, 0 min since (3% of 12)
SAS availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 7 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Barlow back 3/03 after 7, 0 min since (3% of 13)
BACK Cissoko back 3/03 after 28, 0 min since (3% of 12)
SAS availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 8 since 2/22, returns tonight: 11 min (83% of 14)
OUT Cissoko missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Barlow back 3/03 after 7, 7 min since (54% of 13)
NEW Vassell 33 to 39 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Wembanyama missed 2 since 3/07, returns tonight: 31 min (106% of 30)
OUT Cissoko missed 3 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Graham back 3/09 after 8, 11 min since (83% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 3/03 after 7, 15 min since (115% of 13)
NEW Vassell 33 to 38 min over the last 4
SAS availability going into 3/12 · back-to-backOUT Osman missed 2 since 3/09, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 4 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Wembanyama back 3/11 after 2, 31 min since (106% of 30)
BACK Graham back 3/09 after 8, 11 min since (83% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 3/03 after 7, 13 min since (100% of 13)
SAS availability going into 3/15 · 2 days' restOUT Osman missed 3 since 3/09, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 5 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Wembanyama back 3/11 after 2, 31 min since (105% of 30)
BACK Graham back 3/09 after 8, 8 min since (57% of 14)
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 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 16 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Monk at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Vassell at 23 and Wembanyama at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 17 times a game to Sacramento's 13 and the arc, San Antonio at 41 percent from three to Sacramento's 36. Call it Sacramento 118, San Antonio 114, San Antonio keeping it close.
2/28 @ DEN 96-117 — SAC notes
SAC lost 96-117. SAC took 9 more shots (95 to 86), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to DEN's 53%, 12 of 35 from three. Murray led with 21 (9 of 17, 3 of 7 from three); Duarte added 18, Monk 14. Q1 was theirs, 35-28, but the other 3 periods went 89-61 against them. They led by as many as 15. Sabonis's -26 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/01 @ MIN 124-120 — SAC notes
SAC won 124-120 in 1 overtime. SAC shot 50% (50 of 100) to MIN's 49%, 11 of 29 from three, and got to the line 24 times to MIN's 32. SAC turned it over 7 times to MIN's 12. Monk led with 39 (16 of 29, 5 of 8 from three); Sabonis added 21, Murray 17. The hinge was Q1, 30-22: from level to 8 ahead. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
3/04 vs CHI 109-113 — SAC notes
SAC lost 109-113. SAC took 8 more shots (92 to 84), fed by 20 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to CHI's 50%, 11 of 37 from three. SAC turned it over 17 times to CHI's 9, and CHI turned those into 9 steals. The glass went 51-32 for them. Fox led with 20 (8 of 16, 2 of 7 from three); Sabonis added 18, Huerter 12. Q1 was theirs, 36-22, but the other 3 periods went 91-73 against them. They led by as many as 22. Monk's -12 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/06 @ LAL 130-120 — SAC notes
SAC won 130-120. SAC shot 56% (54 of 97) to LAL's 52%, 12 of 31 from three, and got to the line 12 times to LAL's 25. The glass went 46-34 for them. Fox led with 44 (19 of 32, 2 of 6 from three); Monk added 26, Sabonis 16. The hinge was Q2, 44-20: SAC came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 15, and the lead reached 22. Monk was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
3/07 vs SAS 131-129 — SAC notes
SAC won 131-129. SAC shot 51% (52 of 102) to SAS's 51%, 10 of 32 from three. Fox led with 33 (14 of 32, 1 of 7 from three); Sabonis added 31, Monk 18. The hinge was Q2, 41-28: SAC came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 12, and the lead reached 20. Ellis was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/10 vs HOU — 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 120, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Monk at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 27 and Sengun at 23 a game. Without Je. Green (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-8 a night and Houston plus-1 and the defense, Houston allowing 110 a night to Sacramento's 120. Call it Sacramento 116, Houston 115, Houston keeping it close.
3/12 vs MIL — 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 120 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Fox at 29 and Monk at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 34 and Lillard at 28 a game. Without Middleton (14 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-9 a night and Milwaukee minus-1 and the arc, Milwaukee at 37 percent from three to Sacramento's 31. Call it Sacramento 118, Milwaukee 117, Milwaukee keeping it close.
3/13 vs LAL — 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 121 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 33 from three, 17 free throws a game; Fox at 29 and Sabonis at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 52 percent and 45 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 26 and Russell at 22 a game. Without Vanderbilt (16 straight), Vincent (38 straight), Wood (10 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 45 percent from three to Sacramento's 33 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-10 a night and the Lakers plus-0. Call it Sacramento 119, the Lakers 116, the Lakers keeping it close.
3/16 vs NYK — 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 123 a night and allowing 112, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Fox at 29 and Sabonis at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 96 a night and allowing 88, shooting 42 percent and 31 from three, 15 free throws a game; Brunson at 28 and DiVincenzo at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Robinson (45 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 88 a night to Sacramento's 112 and the arc, Sacramento at 37 percent from three to New York's 31. Call it Sacramento 111, New York 108, New York keeping it close.
2/27 @ MIN 105-114 — SAS notes
SAS lost 105-114. SAS shot 48% (39 of 82) to MIN's 46%, 16 of 41 from three. SAS turned it over 22 times to MIN's 14, and MIN turned those into 16 steals. Vassell led with 21 (9 of 18, 2 of 8 from three); Johnson added 20, Wembanyama 17. Q4 was theirs, 38-29, the deficit cut from 18 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 85-67 against them. Osman's -16 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/29 vs OKC 132-118 — SAS notes
SAS won 132-118. SAS shot 53% (48 of 91) to OKC's 49%, 19 of 39 from three. Vassell led with 28 (12 of 20, 3 of 6 from three); Wembanyama added 28, Sochan 21. The hinge was Q4, 34-22: a lead of 2 became 14. Jones was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/03 vs IND 117-105 — SAS notes
SAS won 117-105. SAS shot 54% (46 of 85) to IND's 44%, 10 of 25 from three. Wembanyama led with 31 (11 of 17, 3 of 4 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Branham added 18, Vassell 17. The hinge was Q1, 26-16: from level to 10 ahead. Wembanyama was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
3/05 @ HOU 101-114 — SAS notes
SAS lost 101-114. SAS shot 44% (38 of 87) to HOU's 47%, 12 of 36 from three. SAS turned it over 18 times to HOU's 5, and HOU turned those into 15 steals. Vassell led with 22 (9 of 19, 1 of 5 from three); Branham added 20, Johnson 18. Q2 was theirs, 32-21, turning a 5-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 93-69 against them. Sochan's -17 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/07 @ SAC 129-131 — SAS notes
SAS lost 129-131. SAS shot 51% (46 of 91) to SAC's 51%, 16 of 33 from three. Vassell led with 30 (11 of 18, 4 of 6 from three); Branham added 23, Collins 22. Q3 was theirs, 36-29, the deficit cut from 12 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 102-93 against them. Branham's -16 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/09 @ 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 113 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 16 free throws a game; Curry at 21 and Kuminga at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 18 free throws a game; Vassell at 24 and Wembanyama at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the arc, San Antonio at 42 percent from three to Golden State's 33 and the glass, where Golden State has been plus-5 a night and San Antonio minus-1. Call it Golden State 118, San Antonio 114, San Antonio keeping it close.
3/11 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 45 from three, 21 free throws a game; Vassell at 24 and Wembanyama at 23 a game. Without Wembanyama (2 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Kuminga at 19 and Curry at 18 a game. Without Looney (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the arc, San Antonio at 45 percent from three to Golden State's 33. Call it San Antonio 118, Golden State 116, Golden State keeping it close.
3/12 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 23 and Vassell at 22 a game. Without Osman (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 24 and Ja. Green at 24 a game. Without Tate (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 14 times a game to Houston's 9 and the arc, San Antonio at 42 percent from three to Houston's 37. Call it Houston 115, San Antonio 113, San Antonio keeping it close.
3/15 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Johnson at 20 and Vassell at 19 a game. Without Osman (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Murray at 25 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 14 times a game to Denver's 10. Call it Denver 115, San Antonio 113, San Antonio keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SACAL A. Len
DF D. Fox
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
KE K. Ellis
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
TL T. Lyles
SASBW B. Wesley
CO C. Osman
DB D. Barlow
DV D. Vassell
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
MB M. Branham
SM S. Mamukelashvili
TJ T. Jones
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
Sabonis’ dunk with 7.7 seconds left sends Kings past Spurs 131-129
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- — Domantas Sabonis scored 31 points, including the go-ahead dunk with 7.7 seconds remaining, and the Sacramento Kings beat the San Antonio Spurs 131-129 on Thursday night.
Sabonis added 17 rebounds and nine assists, posting his 45th straight double-double.
“Just to get this win, it’s great,” Sabonis said. “It looked pretty ugly there with a minute left. ... Thankfully we got the win, but there’s still a lot to learn.”
De’Aaron Fox scored 17 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter before fouling out in the final minute.
The Spurs were without leading scorer Victor Wembanyama due to a sprained right ankle. The star rookie is expected to also miss Saturday’s game at Golden State.
San Antonio fell to 0-7 without Wembanyama this season.
The Spurs also lost Cedi Osman to a sprained ankle in the second quarter. He did not return.
With the Kings trailing 129-126, Malik Monk hit a tying 3-pointer with 23.1 seconds left. Sabonis followed with a steal and transition dunk to put Sacramento in front.
Devin Vassell missed a 3 in the final seconds and Jeremy Sochan missed a follow attempt at the buzzer.
Sacramento finished the game on a 7-0 run.
“Obviously, we’d rather not have been in that position, but at the end of the day, it’s a close game against an NBA team,” Fox said. “You try to execute down the stretch and try to get stops whenever you can.”
Vassell led the Spurs with 30 points and nine assists.
“He was aggressive,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “He was confident offensively. He always busts his butt on defense. I thought he did a good job.”
Malaki Branham added 23 points, and Keldon Johnson and Zach Collins each had 22, but San Antonio lost its seventh straight road game.
“We still make too many young, mental errors that cost us when we’re in a close game,” Popovich said.
Sacramento opened the second quarter on an 11-0 run to build a 41-31 lead. Later in the period, the Kings used a 12-0 spurt to push their advantage to 61-41.
The Spurs closed the gap to 71-59 at halftime and pulled within two midway through the third quarter.
San Antonio took a 105-103 lead early in the fourth on a pair of free throws by Sochan and followed with a 9-1 surge to extend the advantage to 114-106.
The Kings dominated inside, outscoring San Antonio 76-52 in the paint.
The Spurs made all 21 of their free throws, while Sacramento went 17 of 18.