Game ID: 22301005
Sacramento Kings @ Washington Wizards
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
WAS 35 21 28 25 109SAC 27 27 22 26 102
SAC @ WAS ScoutingSAC @ WAS 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.
WAS availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Bagley III missed 4 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 2 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Champagnie missed 5 since 3/04, returns tonight: 3 min (19% of 16)
BACK Coulibaly back 3/04 after 3, 31 min since (116% of 27)
BACK Butler back 3/12 after 4, 10 min since (72% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 3/10 after 6, 11 min since (87% of 13)
NEW Avdija 30 to 35 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Bagley III missed 5 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 3 since 3/10, returns tonight: 26 min (139% of 19)
BACK Champagnie back 3/14 after 5, 3 min since (19% of 16)
BACK Butler back 3/12 after 4, 12 min since (85% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 3/10 after 6, 11 min since (88% of 13)
NEW Avdija 30 to 36 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 3/17 · back-to-backOUT Bagley III missed 6 since 3/06, out tonight
BACK Holmes back 3/16 after 3, 26 min since (139% of 19)
BACK Champagnie back 3/14 after 5, 14 min since (89% of 16)
BACK Butler back 3/12 after 4, 15 min since (108% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 3/10 after 6, 13 min since (97% of 13)
NEW Avdija 30 to 36 min over the last 4
NEW Kispert 26 to 32 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Avdija missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Bagley III missed 7 since 3/06, out tonight
BACK Holmes back 3/16 after 3, 23 min since (121% of 19)
BACK Champagnie back 3/14 after 5, 21 min since (136% of 16)
BACK Butler back 3/12 after 4, 17 min since (120% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 3/10 after 6, 16 min since (126% of 13)
NEW Coulibaly 27 to 33 min over the last 4
WAS availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Kuzma missed 2 since 3/17, returns tonight: 37 min (112% of 33)
OUT Avdija missed 3 since 3/16, returns tonight: 32 min (106% of 30)
OUT Jones missed 3 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Bagley III missed 8 since 3/06, out tonight
BACK Holmes back 3/16 after 3, 24 min since (127% of 19)
BACK Champagnie back 3/14 after 5, 24 min since (152% of 16)
BACK Butler back 3/12 after 4, 20 min since (140% of 14)
NEW Coulibaly 27 to 32 min over the last 3
NEW Baldwin Jr. 13 to 18 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 4 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Bagley III missed 9 since 3/06, returns tonight: 16 min (68% of 24)
BACK Kuzma back 3/21 after 2, 37 min since (112% of 33)
BACK Avdija back 3/21 after 3, 32 min since (106% of 30)
BACK Holmes back 3/16 after 3, 25 min since (134% of 19)
BACK Champagnie back 3/14 after 5, 21 min since (132% of 16)
NEW Butler 14 to 22 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 5 since 3/16, out tonight
BACK Kuzma back 3/21 after 2, 35 min since (109% of 33)
BACK Avdija back 3/21 after 3, 34 min since (113% of 30)
BACK Bagley III back 3/23 after 9, 16 min since (68% of 24)
BACK Holmes back 3/16 after 3, 26 min since (138% of 19)
NEW Kispert 26 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Champagnie 16 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Butler 14 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Davis 12 to 19 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 6 since 3/16, out tonight
BACK Kuzma back 3/21 after 2, 35 min since (109% of 33)
BACK Avdija back 3/21 after 3, 34 min since (113% of 30)
BACK Bagley III back 3/23 after 9, 17 min since (70% of 24)
NEW Kispert 26 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Holmes 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Champagnie 16 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Butler 14 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Baldwin Jr. 13 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Davis 12 to 20 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 7 since 3/16, out tonight
BACK Kuzma back 3/21 after 2, 38 min since (117% of 33)
BACK Avdija back 3/21 after 3, 35 min since (117% of 30)
BACK Bagley III back 3/23 after 9, 20 min since (81% of 24)
NEW Poole 30 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Kispert 26 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Holmes 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Butler 14 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Davis 12 to 19 min over the last 5
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)
SAC availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Lyles missed 2 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Vezenkov missed 15 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Duarte back 3/12 after 3, 6 min since (52% of 12)
NEW Ellis 17 to 24 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Lyles missed 3 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Vezenkov missed 16 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Duarte back 3/12 after 3, 9 min since (76% of 12)
NEW Ellis 17 to 27 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 3/21 · back-to-backOUT Lyles missed 4 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Vezenkov missed 17 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Duarte back 3/12 after 3, 11 min since (92% of 12)
NEW Ellis 17 to 29 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Lyles missed 5 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Vezenkov missed 18 since 2/11, out tonight
NEW Ellis 17 to 27 min over the last 5
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
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 106 a night and allowing 128, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Kuzma at 19 and Poole at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Kuzma (2 straight), Avdija (3 straight), Jones (3 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 100, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Fox at 23 and Sabonis at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Lyles (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-7 a night and Washington minus-13 and the defense, Sacramento allowing 100 a night to Washington's 128. Call it Sacramento 120, Washington 111.
3/14 @ HOU 119-135 — WAS notes
WAS lost 119-135. WAS shot 49% (46 of 93) to HOU's 59%, 12 of 38 from three. The glass went 32-47 against them. Poole led with 25 (10 of 19, 5 of 12 from three); Avdija added 24, Kuzma 23. Q3 was theirs, 39-35, the deficit cut from 19 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 100-80 against them. Jones's -19 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/16 @ CHI 98-127 — WAS notes
WAS lost 98-127. WAS shot 43% (36 of 84) to CHI's 58%, 13 of 32 from three, and got to the line 22 times to CHI's 29. The glass went 32-51 against them. Kispert led with 16 (6 of 12, 3 of 6 from three); Coulibaly added 15, Poole 13. Q4 was theirs, 29-32, but the other 3 periods went 95-69 against them. Omoruyi's -17 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/17 vs BOS 104-130 — WAS notes
WAS lost 104-130. WAS shot 46% (41 of 89) to BOS's 49%, 10 of 34 from three, and got to the line 14 times to BOS's 24. Poole led with 31 (12 of 19, 3 of 6 from three); Champagnie added 14, Gill 13. Q4 was theirs, 26-22, the deficit cut from 30 to 26, but the other 3 periods went 108-78 against them. Kispert's -19 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/19 vs HOU 114-137 — WAS notes
WAS lost 114-137. WAS shot 43% (42 of 98) to HOU's 52%, 15 of 39 from three, and got to the line 20 times to HOU's 36. Kispert led with 16 (6 of 11, 4 of 7 from three); Champagnie added 16, Bernard 16. Q2 was theirs, 21-21, but the other 3 periods went 116-93 against them. Kispert's -27 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/21 vs SAC 109-102 — WAS notes
WAS won 109-102. WAS shot 51% (41 of 81) to SAC's 43%, 10 of 25 from three. Kuzma led with 31 (13 of 22, 3 of 6 from three); Avdija added 17, Kispert 15. The hinge was Q1, 35-27: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Holmes was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/23 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 126, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Poole at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jones (4 straight), Bagley III (9 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Trent Jr. at 21 and Quickley at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Barrett (5 straight), Quickley (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the defense, Toronto allowing 117 a night to Washington's 126 and the turnovers, Toronto giving it away 18 times a game to Washington's 15. Call it Washington 116, Toronto 114, Toronto keeping it close.
3/25 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Dosunmu at 23 and DeRozan at 21 a game. One day's rest. Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Kuzma at 19 and Poole at 18 a game. Without Jones (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Washington giving it away 15 times a game to Chicago's 11. Call it Chicago 119, Washington 112.
3/27 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Poole at 20 and Kispert at 14 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Jones (6 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 107, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 18 free throws a game; Thomas at 24 and Bridges at 17 a game. One day's rest.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 107 a night to Washington's 117 and the arc, Washington at 33 percent from three to Brooklyn's 29. Call it Washington 113, Brooklyn 112, Brooklyn keeping it close.
3/29 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Kuzma at 24 and Poole at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones (7 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 119, shooting 42 percent and 27 from three, 24 free throws a game; Cunningham at 23 and Wiseman at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the arc, Washington at 35 percent from three to Detroit's 27 and the line, where Detroit takes 24 free throws a game to Washington's 19. Call it Washington 117, Detroit 111.
3/13 vs LAL 120-107 — SAC notes
SAC won 120-107. SAC shot 52% (46 of 88) to LAL's 49%, 19 of 41 from three, and got to the line 12 times to LAL's 22. Barnes led with 23 (8 of 15, 7 of 11 from three); Fox added 21, Murray 19. The hinge was Q3, 28-17: a lead of 4 became 15. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
3/16 vs NYK 91-98 — SAC notes
SAC lost 91-98. SAC shot 35% (30 of 85) to NYK's 43%, 10 of 37 from three, and went to the line 26 times to NYK's 16 — 21 points from the stripe to their 13. The glass went 42-52 against them. Sabonis led with 21 (9 of 16); Fox added 20, Monk 18. Q3 was theirs, 26-22, the deficit cut from 5 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 76-65 against them. Sabonis's -13 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/18 vs MEM 121-111 — SAC notes
SAC won 121-111 in 1 overtime. SAC shot 45% (42 of 94) to MEM's 38%, 11 of 35 from three. SAC turned it over 17 times to MEM's 12, and MEM turned those into 13 steals. The glass went 59-49 for them. Monk led with 28 (10 of 19, 1 of 6 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Sabonis added 25, Fox 23. The hinge was Q2, 29-15: SAC came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 10. Monk was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
3/20 @ TOR 123-89 — SAC notes
SAC won 123-89. SAC shot 52% (48 of 93) to TOR's 41%, 12 of 40 from three. SAC turned it over 15 times to TOR's 21. The glass went 53-31 for them. Fox led with 20 (8 of 15, 3 of 7 from three); Monk added 17, Barnes 16. The hinge was Q2, 36-18: a lead of 5 became 23, and the lead reached 38. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
3/21 @ WAS 102-109 — SAC notes
SAC lost 102-109. SAC shot 43% (37 of 86) to WAS's 51%, 11 of 39 from three. Fox led with 25 (10 of 30, 5 of 15 from three); Monk added 20, Murray 16. Q2 was theirs, 27-21, the deficit cut from 8 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 88-75 against them. Murray's -21 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/23 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 101, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Banchero at 20 and F. Wagner at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 103, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Fox at 22 and Monk at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Lyles (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the arc, Orlando at 38 percent from three to Sacramento's 33. Call it Orlando 112, Sacramento 109, Sacramento keeping it close.
3/25 vs PHI — 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 103, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; Fox at 24 and Sabonis at 19 a game. Without Lyles (6 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 102, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Maxey at 23 and Oubre Jr. at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Embiid (25 straight), Melton (13 straight), Covington (39 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-1 a night and Philadelphia minus-6 and the line, where Sacramento takes 23 free throws a game to Philadelphia's 18. Call it Sacramento 112, Philadelphia 108, Philadelphia keeping it close.
3/26 vs DAL — 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 113 a night and allowing 102, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 24 free throws a game; Fox at 24 and Murray at 17 a game. Without Lyles (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and Irving at 26 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Green (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Sacramento wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Sacramento 115, Dallas 111, Dallas keeping it close.
3/29 vs DAL — 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 108 a night and allowing 107, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Fox at 23 and Murray at 18 a game. Without Lyles (8 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 102, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Dončić at 29 and Irving at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Green (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Dallas wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-6 a night and Sacramento minus-1. Call it Dallas 113, Sacramento 112, Sacramento keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
WASAG A. Gill
CK C. Kispert
DA D. Avdija
JB J. Butler
JC J. Champagnie
JD J. Davis
JP J. Poole
KK K. Kuzma
PB P. Baldwin Jr.
RH R. Holmes
SACAL A. Len
CD C. Duarte
DF D. Fox
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
KE K. Edwards
KE K. Ellis
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
WAS/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
Kuzma scores 31, Wizards snap 5-game skid with 109-102 win over Kings
WASHINGTON -- — Kyle Kuzma scored 31 points and the Washington Wizards snapped a five-game losing streak with a 109-102 win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.
Kuzma, who hit 13 of 22 shots and grabbed six rebounds, had missed the team's previous two games with shoulder soreness. Deni Avdija added 17 points and Corey Kispert scored 15, sending Sacramento to its first loss in the last five meetings in Washington.
“Any win is a great win," Kuzma said. "That’s really the NBA because any team can be beat on any given night. You’ll take a win always. It’s all about playing together and playing hard, playing smart. I feel like that was one of the smarter games we played all year, from start to finish.”
Jordan Poole scored 14 for the Wizards, while Richaun Holmes added six points and 16 rebounds against his former team.
De’Aaron Fox had 25 points and Malik Monk scored 20 to lead the Kings, who fell to 16-8 in back-to-back games. Domantas Sabonis had 14 points and 14 rebounds for his 52nd consecutive double-double, but the Kings struggled from 3-point range, hitting just 11 of 39 from outside the arc.
“Tough loss, especially where we are right now in our race for that playoff spot,” said Kings coach Mike Brown. “But you got to give the Wizards credit, their coaching staff a lot of credit. They basically took it to us. Kuzma was a handful. We did not have answers for him tonight. We tried to double team him at times and he still found a way to hit big shots.”
It took a while for the Kings to get going, but they went on an 18-0 run in the final five minutes of the second quarter to erase the Wizards' 54-36 lead.
Fox missed 12 of his first 16 attempts in the first half, but still shared the team lead with Monk, with 10 points apiece.
“We only gave up 109 points which is not a terrible defensive game,” Fox said. “We turned them over 20 times. I think defensively we gave ourselves chances to win and for me, obviously, I have to be able to make some of those easier shots.”
Kuzma's drive midway through the second provided Washington with its largest lead, 52-33. He had a game-high 18 at the break.
The Wizards came out of halftime on fire again with a 13-2 run, highlighted by Kuzma, to push the lead to 69-56.
Sacramento went on a 24-8 run spanning the third and start of the fourth, as Fox and Monk got hot. Fox's 14-footer gave the Kings an 88-87 lead with 8:38 remaining. But the Wizards took over from there, led by Avdija and Kispert, for their 12th win of the season and third win in their last 10 games against the Kings.
“One of the things I liked was we had some really good stretches in the game and we had some tough ones but we were really resilient," said Wizards interim coach Brian Keefe. "They made some big runs and they are a good team. But our guys answered the bell. It was really our defense that closed the game out.”