Game ID: 22301204
New Orleans Pelicans @ Sacramento Kings
Monday, December 4, 2023 at 10:00 PM ET
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAC 36 25 30 26 117NOP 35 34 31 27 127
NOP @ SAC ScoutingNOP @ 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 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Ellis missed 2 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 11/19 after 3, 13 min since (82% of 15)
SAC availability going into 11/28 · 3 days' restOUT Murray missed 2 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Ellis missed 3 since 11/20, returns tonight: 6 min (33% of 17)
BACK Mitchell back 11/19 after 3, 12 min since (76% of 15)
NEW Duarte 12 to 19 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 11/29 · back-to-backOUT Murray missed 3 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 11/28 after 3, 6 min since (33% of 17)
BACK Mitchell back 11/19 after 3, 11 min since (73% of 15)
NEW Duarte 12 to 19 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 12/02 · 2 days' restOUT Murray missed 4 since 11/22, returns tonight: 23 min (70% of 34)
BACK Ellis back 11/28 after 3, 6 min since (33% of 17)
SAC availability going into 12/04 · 1 day's restBACK Murray back 12/02 after 4, 23 min since (70% of 34)
BACK Ellis back 11/28 after 3, 7 min since (40% of 17)
NEW Duarte 12 to 17 min over the last 4
SAC availability going into 12/08 · 3 days' restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 12/02, returns tonight: 1 min (6% of 15)
OUT Duarte missed 2 since 12/02, returns tonight: 1 min (7% of 12)
BACK Murray back 12/02 after 4, 27 min since (81% of 34)
BACK Ellis back 11/28 after 3, 7 min since (42% of 17)
SAC availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restBACK Murray back 12/02 after 4, 28 min since (84% of 34)
BACK Ellis back 11/28 after 3, 10 min since (57% of 17)
BACK Mitchell back 12/08 after 2, 1 min since (6% of 15)
BACK Duarte back 12/08 after 2, 1 min since (7% of 12)
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)
NOP availability going into 11/27 · 1 day's restOUT McCollum missed 11 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 4 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 11/22 after 4, 15 min since (74% of 20)
BACK Alvarado back 11/20 after 2, 18 min since (99% of 18)
NEW Daniels 22 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Hawkins 17 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 11/29 · 1 day's restOUT McCollum missed 12 since 11/06, returns tonight: 28 min (85% of 33)
OUT Ryan missed 5 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 11/22 after 4, 13 min since (67% of 20)
BACK Alvarado back 11/20 after 2, 17 min since (95% of 18)
NEW Daniels 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Marshall 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Hawkins 17 to 27 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Ryan missed 6 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK McCollum back 11/29 after 12, 28 min since (85% of 33)
BACK Nance Jr. back 11/22 after 4, 13 min since (67% of 20)
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Daniels 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Hawkins 17 to 26 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/02 · back-to-backOUT Nance Jr. missed 2 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 7 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK McCollum back 11/29 after 12, 33 min since (101% of 33)
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Hawkins 17 to 25 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/04 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 3 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 8 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK McCollum back 11/29 after 12, 33 min since (101% of 33)
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Hawkins 17 to 26 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/07 · 2 days' restOUT Nance Jr. missed 4 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 9 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK McCollum back 11/29 after 12, 34 min since (103% of 33)
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Hawkins 17 to 22 min over the last 4
NOP availability going into 12/11 · 3 days' restOUT Nance Jr. missed 5 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 10 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK McCollum back 11/29 after 12, 32 min since (97% of 33)
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 30 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/13 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 6 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 11 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 31 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 7 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 12 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 31 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 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Fox at 31 and Monk at 18 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 28 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and Ingram at 21 a game. Without Nance Jr. (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 38 percent from three to New Orleans's 32 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 113 a night to Sacramento's 120. Call it Sacramento 117, New Orleans 115, New Orleans keeping it close.
11/24 @ MIN 124-111 — SAC notes
SAC won 124-111. SAC shot 49% (49 of 100) to MIN's 44%, 17 of 35 from three, and got to the line 11 times to MIN's 29. SAC turned it over 13 times to MIN's 18. Fox led with 36 (14 of 32, 3 of 7 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Barnes added 18, Monk 17. The hinge was Q1, 38-31: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
11/28 vs GSW 124-123 — SAC notes
SAC won 124-123. SAC shot 45% (41 of 91) to GSW's 48%, 15 of 44 from three, and went to the line 42 times to GSW's 30 — 27 points from the stripe to their 26. SAC turned it over 10 times to GSW's 18. Fox led with 29 (9 of 20, 2 of 8 from three, 9 of 17 at the line); Huerter added 21, Monk 21. The hinge was Q4, 29-19: SAC came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 1. SAC trailed 55-72 at the half and won the second half 69-51. Vezenkov was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
11/29 vs LAC 117-131 — SAC notes
SAC lost 117-131. SAC shot 47% (40 of 86) to LAC's 54%, 13 of 41 from three, and went to the line 28 times to LAC's 22 — 24 points from the stripe to their 17. SAC turned it over 14 times to LAC's 4, and LAC turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 47-37 for them. Fox led with 40 (14 of 23, 3 of 8 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Monk added 15, Vezenkov 13. Q4 was theirs, 36-29, the deficit cut from 21 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 102-81 against them. Sabonis's -19 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/02 vs DEN 123-117 — SAC notes
SAC won 123-117. SAC shot 48% (48 of 99) to DEN's 49%, 16 of 34 from three. Fox led with 26 (10 of 22, 3 of 6 from three); Monk added 26, Sabonis 17. The hinge was Q2, 39-20: SAC came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 14, and the lead reached 17. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/04 vs NOP 117-127 — SAC notes
SAC lost 117-127. SAC shot 45% (38 of 85) to NOP's 54%, 14 of 41 from three, and went to the line 33 times to NOP's 23 — 27 points from the stripe to their 19. Fox led with 30 (10 of 25, 1 of 7 from three, 9 of 13 at the line); Sabonis added 26, Monk 21. Q1 was theirs, 36-35, but the other 3 periods went 92-81 against them. They led by as many as 15. Monk's -17 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Booker at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Beal (11 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Monk at 20 a game. Without Mitchell (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 112 a night to Sacramento's 122. Call it Phoenix 117, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/11 vs BKN — 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 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Monk at 19 a game. 2 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Bridges at 28 and Thomas at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Simmons (14 straight), Walker IV (3 straight), Clowney (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-11 a night and Sacramento plus-2 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 109 a night to Sacramento's 121. Call it Brooklyn 117, Sacramento 116, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/12 @ 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 117 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and George at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Coffey (4 straight), Tucker (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Monk at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 113 a night to Sacramento's 120 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-0. Call it the Clippers 118, Sacramento 114, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/14 vs OKC — 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 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Fox at 27 and Monk at 18 a game. One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been minus-0 a night and OKC minus-7 and the arc, Sacramento at 40 percent from three to OKC's 36. Call it OKC 119, Sacramento 118, Sacramento keeping it close.
11/27 @ UTA 112-114 — NOP notes
NOP lost 112-114. NOP shot 50% (44 of 88) to UTA's 42%, 7 of 22 from three. Williamson led with 26 (9 of 16, 7 of 9 at the line); Ingram added 25, Valančiūnas 14. Q2 was theirs, 31-25, the deficit cut from 8 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 89-81 against them. Jones's -10 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/29 vs PHI 124-114 — NOP notes
NOP won 124-114. NOP shot 54% (42 of 78) to PHI's 52%, 10 of 30 from three, and went to the line 34 times to PHI's 18 — 30 points from the stripe to their 16. The glass went 40-30 for them. Williamson led with 33 (11 of 12, 11 of 12 at the line); McCollum added 20, Valančiūnas 19. The hinge was Q1, 39-24: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 29. McCollum was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
12/01 vs SAS 121-106 — NOP notes
NOP won 121-106. NOP shot 49% (42 of 85) to SAS's 46%, 10 of 31 from three, and went to the line 29 times to SAS's 17 — 27 points from the stripe to their 14. NOP turned it over 11 times to SAS's 19. Valančiūnas led with 24 (9 of 12, 6 of 7 at the line); McCollum added 19, Murphy III 18. The hinge was Q4, 32-25: a lead of 8 became 15. McCollum was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/02 @ CHI 118-124 — NOP notes
NOP lost 118-124. NOP shot 50% (41 of 82) to CHI's 55%, 8 of 25 from three, and went to the line 35 times to CHI's 15 — 28 points from the stripe to their 11. Williamson led with 27 (10 of 15, 7 of 9 at the line); Ingram added 23, Jones 17. Q2 was theirs, 32-21, turning a 3-point deficit into a 8-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 103-86 against them. They led by as many as 10. Zeller's -17 in 12 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/04 @ SAC 127-117 — NOP notes
NOP won 127-117. NOP shot 54% (47 of 87) to SAC's 45%, 14 of 31 from three, and got to the line 23 times to SAC's 33. Ingram led with 30 (10 of 20, 3 of 6 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Jones added 23, Valančiūnas 18. The hinge was Q2, 34-25: NOP came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 8, and the lead reached 15. Murphy III was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
12/07 @ 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 110 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Davis at 26 and James at 22 a game. Without Vincent (18 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 29 free throws a game; Williamson at 22 and Ingram at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Nance Jr. (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-4 and the arc, New Orleans at 35 percent from three to the Lakers' 31. Call it New Orleans 115, the Lakers 114, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/11 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 28 free throws a game; Williamson at 19 and Ingram at 18 a game. Without Nance Jr. (5 straight). 3 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 101, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Towns at 22 and Gobert at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without McDaniels (8 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 101 a night to New Orleans's 119 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-9 a night and New Orleans minus-0. Call it Minnesota 113, New Orleans 110, New Orleans keeping it close.
12/13 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 134, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Kuzma at 21 and Poole at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Shamet (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 29 free throws a game; Williamson at 20 and Ingram at 19 a game. Without Nance Jr. (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 117 a night to Washington's 134 and the glass, where New Orleans has been minus-2 a night and Washington minus-9. Call it New Orleans 121, Washington 116.
12/15 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 17 free throws a game; Rozier at 26 and Hayward at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Ball (7 straight), Maledon (6 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 30 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Williamson at 22 a game. Without Nance Jr. (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been minus-0 a night and Charlotte minus-12 and the line, where New Orleans takes 30 free throws a game to Charlotte's 17. Call it Charlotte 117, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SACAV A. Vezenkov
DF D. Fox
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
JM J. McGee
KE K. Ellis
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
TL T. Lyles
NOPBI B. Ingram
CM C. McCollum
CZ C. Zeller
DD D. Daniels
HJ H. Jones
JA J. Alvarado
JV J. Valančiūnas
NM N. Marshall
TM T. Murphy III
ZW Z. Williamson
SAC/NOP 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
Brandon Ingram leads the Pelicans past the Kings 127-117 to advance to In-Season Tournament semis
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- — Brandon Ingram scored 30 points and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Sacramento Kings 127-117 on Monday night in the quarterfinals of the NBA's In-Season Tournament.
Ingram helped New Orleans erase an early deficit and the Pelicans never trailed in the second half as they advanced to play the winner of Tuesday night's game between Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers in the semifinals Thursday in Las Vegas.
“It’s a growth moment for us to have an opportunity to be one of the first," New Orleans coach Willie Green said. "This is the first time we’ve had the In-Season Tournament. You put a game in front of us that’s meaningful, I don’t care who it is, where it is, we want to win. That’s the type of heart that we have in that locker room.”
Herb Jones added 23 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 18 to give the Pelicans their third win over Sacramento in the past two weeks.
De'Aaron Fox scored 30 points and Domantas Sabonis added 26 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the Kings. Sacramento lost for the first time in the tournament after sweeping all four games in group play.
There was good energy from the sellout crowd, with many fans wearing blue T-shirts handed out to give the In-Season Tournament a playoff feel.
The intensity carried over to the court, with Sacramento's Trey Lyles getting into a dustup with Valanciunas in the first half that earned him a technical foul.
“High-intensity game. Fun to be a part of,” Green said. "I think the guys just relish these type of moments. It’s experience for us, more than anything. We can lean on these experiences when we start to get down the stretch, when we face adversity, things like that. We love these moments.”
The Kings made 12 of their first 14 shots to take a 32-17 lead before going cold during a 28-5 run spanning the first two quarters for the Pelicans. Sacramento missed 16 of 18 shots from the field during the spurt and had 10 turnovers in the first half.
“We have to be able to answer their run a lot better,” Fox said. “When you turn the ball over, just losing possessions, it starts to add up. Once they got the lead, we were never able to get it back.”
New Orleans built its cushion to 15 in the third quarter behind big shots from Ingram before Sacramento started to chip away.
“(Ingram) was incredible,” Green said. “He put us on his shoulders and he carried us. He had big shot after big shot. Whenever we needed a big bucket, we put it in his hands. He’s a big-time player."
The Kings got within six midway through the fourth before the Pelicans scored nine straight points to put the game away.
Valanciunas made a hook shot and Trey Murphy hit a 3-pointer before Ingram and Jones each made a pair of free throws for New Orleans.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Play the winner of Tuesday's Suns-Lakers game in the In-Season Tournament semifinals Thursday night in Las Vegas.
Kings: Visit the loser of Tuesday’s Suns-Lakers game on Friday night.