Game ID: 22301101
LA Clippers @ Sacramento Kings
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAC 24 32 35 18 109LAC 24 27 19 25 95
LAC @ SAC ScoutingLAC @ 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 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Lyles missed 6 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Vezenkov missed 19 since 2/11, out tonight
NEW Ellis 17 to 29 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 3/26 · back-to-backOUT Lyles missed 7 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Vezenkov missed 20 since 2/11, out tonight
NEW Ellis 17 to 28 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 3/29 · 2 days' restOUT Lyles missed 8 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Vezenkov missed 21 since 2/11, out tonight
NEW Ellis 17 to 27 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Lyles missed 9 since 3/13, returns tonight: 19 min (94% of 20)
OUT Vezenkov missed 22 since 2/11, returns tonight: 10 min (81% of 12)
NEW Ellis 17 to 30 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restBACK Lyles back 3/31 after 9, 19 min since (94% of 20)
BACK Vezenkov back 3/31 after 22, 10 min since (81% of 12)
NEW Ellis 17 to 31 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restBACK Lyles back 3/31 after 9, 22 min since (112% of 20)
BACK Vezenkov back 3/31 after 22, 10 min since (80% of 12)
NEW Ellis 17 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Mitchell 15 to 21 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/05 · back-to-backBACK Lyles back 3/31 after 9, 25 min since (123% of 20)
BACK Vezenkov back 3/31 after 22, 11 min since (91% of 12)
NEW Ellis 17 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Mitchell 15 to 21 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restBACK Lyles back 3/31 after 9, 23 min since (114% of 20)
BACK Vezenkov back 3/31 after 22, 12 min since (97% of 12)
NEW Ellis 17 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Mitchell 15 to 23 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restBACK Lyles back 3/31 after 9, 24 min since (120% of 20)
BACK Vezenkov back 3/31 after 22, 10 min since (82% of 12)
NEW Ellis 17 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Mitchell 15 to 25 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/25 · back-to-backOUT Westbrook missed 12 since 3/03, returns tonight: 18 min (82% of 22)
BACK Harden back 3/17 after 2, 36 min since (102% of 35)
BACK Powell back 3/24 after 3, 25 min since (93% of 26)
BACK Tucker back 3/15 after 2, 20 min since (131% of 15)
LAC availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restBACK Harden back 3/17 after 2, 35 min since (101% of 35)
BACK Powell back 3/24 after 3, 28 min since (105% of 26)
BACK Westbrook back 3/25 after 12, 18 min since (82% of 22)
NEW Coffey 21 to 26 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Theis missed 2 since 3/25, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 2 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Powell back 3/24 after 3, 28 min since (107% of 26)
BACK Westbrook back 3/25 after 12, 18 min since (80% of 22)
NEW Coffey 21 to 26 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Theis missed 3 since 3/25, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 3/27, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 3 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Powell back 3/24 after 3, 28 min since (105% of 26)
BACK Westbrook back 3/25 after 12, 18 min since (80% of 22)
LAC availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Theis missed 4 since 3/25, returns tonight: 18 min (106% of 17)
OUT Tucker missed 2 since 3/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 3/27, returns tonight: 8 min (55% of 14)
OUT Boston missed 4 since 3/25, returns tonight: 21 min (212% of 10)
BACK Powell back 3/24 after 3, 28 min since (104% of 26)
BACK Westbrook back 3/25 after 12, 18 min since (82% of 22)
LAC availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 3 since 3/29, returns tonight: 17 min (111% of 15)
BACK Westbrook back 3/25 after 12, 19 min since (87% of 22)
BACK Theis back 4/02 after 4, 18 min since (106% of 17)
BACK Hyland back 4/02 after 3, 8 min since (55% of 14)
BACK Boston back 4/02 after 4, 21 min since (212% of 10)
LAC availability going into 4/05 · back-to-backOUT Leonard missed 2 since 4/02, out tonight
BACK Theis back 4/02 after 4, 18 min since (106% of 17)
BACK Tucker back 4/04 after 3, 17 min since (111% of 15)
BACK Hyland back 4/02 after 3, 8 min since (55% of 14)
BACK Boston back 4/02 after 4, 21 min since (212% of 10)
LAC availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restOUT Leonard missed 3 since 4/02, out tonight
BACK Theis back 4/02 after 4, 17 min since (103% of 17)
BACK Tucker back 4/04 after 3, 15 min since (102% of 15)
BACK Hyland back 4/02 after 3, 7 min since (54% of 14)
BACK Boston back 4/02 after 4, 14 min since (142% of 10)
LAC availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Leonard missed 4 since 4/02, out tonight
BACK Theis back 4/02 after 4, 17 min since (103% of 17)
BACK Tucker back 4/04 after 3, 15 min since (100% of 15)
BACK Hyland back 4/02 after 3, 7 min since (54% of 14)
BACK Boston back 4/02 after 4, 14 min since (142% of 10)
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 109 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Fox at 24 and Murray at 20 a game. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; George at 24 and Leonard at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Theis (4 straight), Tucker (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Sacramento 115, the Clippers 112, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/25 vs PHI 108-96 — SAC notes
SAC won 108-96. SAC shot 44% (38 of 86) to PHI's 41%, 10 of 38 from three, and went to the line 28 times to PHI's 20 — 22 points from the stripe to their 17. SAC turned it over 7 times to PHI's 15. Murray led with 23 (9 of 20, 3 of 11 from three); Fox added 23, Mitchell 18. The hinge was Q1, 31-25: from level to 6 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
3/26 vs DAL 96-132 — SAC notes
SAC lost 96-132. SAC shot 39% (35 of 90) to DAL's 55%, 11 of 30 from three, and went to the line 19 times to DAL's 13 — 15 points from the stripe to their 8. Fox led with 18 (6 of 18, 2 of 4 from three); Murray added 17, Sabonis 12. Q2 was theirs, 25-27, but the other 3 periods went 105-71 against them. Fox's -27 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/29 vs DAL 103-107 — SAC notes
SAC lost 103-107. SAC took 18 more shots (92 to 74), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to DAL's 47%, 15 of 32 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 22 fouls committed. Fox led with 23 (9 of 22, 3 of 7 from three); Barnes added 20, Ellis 16. Q1 was theirs, 34-26, but the other 3 periods went 81-69 against them. They led by as many as 15. Edwards's -8 in 11 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/31 vs UTA 127-106 — SAC notes
SAC won 127-106. SAC shot 54% (45 of 84) to UTA's 41%, 20 of 40 from three. The glass went 44-33 for them. Murray led with 25 (10 of 18, 5 of 12 from three); Fox added 24, Barnes 24. The hinge was Q3, 39-25: a lead of 4 became 18, and the lead reached 25. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
4/02 vs LAC 109-95 — SAC notes
SAC won 109-95. SAC shot 42% (39 of 92) to LAC's 41%, 12 of 42 from three. SAC turned it over 10 times to LAC's 15. The glass went 56-38 for them. Sabonis led with 22 (8 of 17, 0 of 3 from three, 6 of 10 at the line); Fox added 20, Murray 19. The hinge was Q3, 35-19: a lead of 5 became 21, and the lead reached 26. Len was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
4/04 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brunson at 33 and DiVincenzo at 24 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Anunoby (8 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 107, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Fox at 22 and Murray at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it New York 115, Sacramento 110.
4/05 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 28 and Porziņģis at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 23 and Murray at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Boston 119, Sacramento 109, Boston by 10.
4/07 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 26 free throws a game; Thomas at 28 and Bridges at 17 a game. Without Smith Jr. (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 17 free throws a game; Fox at 27 and Sabonis at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Brooklyn takes 26 free throws a game to Sacramento's 17 and the defense, Sacramento allowing 106 a night to Brooklyn's 114. Call it Sacramento 113, Brooklyn 112, Brooklyn keeping it close.
4/09 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Giddey at 15 and Holmgren at 15 a game. Without Gilgeous-Alexander (4 straight), Jal. Williams (4 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 100, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 27 and Murray at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Sacramento allowing 100 a night to OKC's 120 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-7 a night and OKC minus-3. Call it Sacramento 114, OKC 112, OKC keeping it close.
3/25 vs IND 116-133 — LAC notes
LAC lost 116-133. LAC shot 54% (46 of 85) to IND's 58%, 6 of 20 from three. Leonard led with 26 (11 of 18); George added 26, Powell 22. Q1 was theirs, 34-29, but the other 3 periods went 104-82 against them. Harden's -24 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/27 @ PHI 108-107 — LAC notes
LAC won 108-107. LAC shot 44% (40 of 90) to PHI's 48%, 14 of 36 from three. LAC turned it over 6 times to PHI's 12. George led with 22 (7 of 18, 5 of 8 from three); Leonard added 17, Harden 16. The hinge was Q2, 28-20: the deficit went from 12 to 4. LAC trailed 46-50 at the half and won the second half 62-57. Coffey was the night's best plus/minus at +6.
3/29 @ ORL 100-97 — LAC notes
LAC won 100-97. LAC shot 48% (41 of 85) to ORL's 44%, 8 of 24 from three. Leonard led with 29 (12 of 21, 3 of 6 from three); Zubac added 14, George 12. The hinge was Q3, 33-27: a lead of 2 became 8.
3/31 @ CHA 130-118 — LAC notes
LAC won 130-118. LAC shot 57% (43 of 75) to CHA's 50%, 14 of 29 from three, and went to the line 34 times to CHA's 11 — 30 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 41-31 for them. George led with 41 (14 of 21, 8 of 12 from three); Zubac added 24, Leonard 23. The hinge was Q1, 31-25: from level to 6 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Powell was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
4/02 @ SAC 95-109 — LAC notes
LAC lost 95-109. LAC shot 41% (31 of 76) to SAC's 42%, 11 of 27 from three. LAC turned it over 15 times to SAC's 10, and SAC turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 38-56 against them. Westbrook led with 20 (7 of 14, 2 of 3 from three); George added 18, Powell 17. Q4 was theirs, 25-18, the deficit cut from 21 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 91-70 against them. Coffey's -18 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/04 vs DEN — 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 113, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; George at 24 and Leonard at 24 a game. Without Tucker (3 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Jokić at 30 and Gordon at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Murray (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-2 and the defense, Denver allowing 105 a night to the Clippers' 113. Call it Denver 112, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
4/05 vs UTA — 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 107 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; George at 24 and Leonard at 23 a game. Without Leonard (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sexton at 23 and Collins at 23 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Clarkson (4 straight), Collins (2 straight), Lofton Jr. (12 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, Utah giving it away 17 times a game to the Clippers' 10 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 106 a night to Utah's 118. Call it the Clippers 116, Utah 110.
4/07 vs CLE — 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 112 a night and allowing 105, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; George at 23 and Zubac at 15 a game. Without Leonard (3 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Eva. Mobley at 18 and LeVert at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Okoro (4 straight), Wade (15 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 105 a night to Cleveland's 119 and the line, where the Clippers take 25 free throws a game to Cleveland's 18. Call it the Clippers 116, Cleveland 108.
4/09 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Booker at 29 and Durant at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; George at 28 and Powell at 15 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Leonard (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 27 free throws a game to Phoenix's 20 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 15 times a game to the Clippers' 12. Call it Phoenix 113, the Clippers 112, the Clippers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SACAL A. Len
AV A. Vezenkov
CD C. Duarte
CJ C. Jones
DF D. Fox
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
KE K. Edwards
KE K. Ellis
KM K. Murray
MJ M. Jones
TL T. Lyles
LACAC A. Coffey
BB B. Boston
BH B. Hyland
DT D. Theis
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
NP N. Powell
PG P. George
RW R. Westbrook
TM T. Mann
SAC/LAC 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 22 points, 20 rebounds as Kings beat Clippers 109-95
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- — Domantas Sabonis had 22 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists, and the Sacramento Kings beat the Los Angeles Clippers 109-95 on Tuesday night.
The Kings moved within one game of sixth-place New Orleans in the Western Conference as they seek to avoid the play-in tournament. Sacramento (44-31) is tied with Phoenix with seven games left, including a four-game trip that begins Thursday at New York.
The Clippers are fourth in the West. Sacramento held the Clippers to under 100 points for just the fifth time this season.
“This is how you win in the playoffs,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “You don’t win in the playoffs averaging 125 points a game and think that’s how you’re going to win."
De’Aaron Fox added 20 points and seven assists for the Kings, and Keegan Murray had 19 points.
“We were being aggressive,” forward Trey Lyles said. "We were talking. We were covering for one another. We were getting to their shooters. And we followed the game plan, basically, to a tee tonight. When we’re capable (of doing that), when we’re five guys on a string, we’re hard to score on."
Guard Davion Mitchell said the Kings embraced the physicality on defense. They blitzed James Harden , who had six points on 1-of-7 shooting, and forced him to go right. They showed different looks at Paul George , who scored 18 on 5-for-12 shooting after he had 41 points during Sunday's win at Charlotte.
“We’re just getting ready for the playoffs,” Mitchell said.
Los Angeles was without star Kawhi Leonard , who has a sore right knee. Coach Tyronn Lue said he hopes Leonard, who flew back to Los Angeles for treatment after playing Sunday, will be available Thursday against West-leading Denver.
Russell Westbrook led the Clippers with 20 points. Norman Powell , starting for Leonard, scored 17.
Lue liked his team's defense and intent, but said the Clippers couldn't rebound or make shots when they needed to. The Clippers had won the first three games of a four-game trip before Tuesday's loss.
“I want us to play like we have the last four games,” Lue said.
The Kings led by just five at halftime, but they outscored the Clippers 35-19 in the third quarter. Sabonis had nine points in the period.
Murray had one of the biggest highlights of the third with an emphatic dunk off a Clippers turnover on a fast break.
Neither Ivica Zubac nor Westbrook joined their teammates down the court on offense after the Kings committed a turnover, and when the Clippers gave it right back, Murray hesitated before slamming it on Zubac with his right hand to put the Kings up 76-62.
“Keegan’s starting to get a little wiggle now,” said Brown, who has been pushing for the second-year forward to be more aggressive.
He added: “It’s about time.”
Sacramento scored the last seven of the quarter, and a dunk by Alex Len lifted the Kings to a 91-70 lead heading into the fourth.
UP NEXT
Clippers: Host Denver on Thursday night.
Kings: At the Knicks on Thursday night to open their last road swing of the season, which also includes stops in Boston, Brooklyn and Oklahoma City.