Game ID: 22401118
Sacramento Kings @ Charlotte Hornets
Friday, April 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM ET
Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CHA 18 31 23 30 102SAC 26 42 30 27 125
CHA vs SAC ScoutingCHA vs 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.
CHA availability going into 3/28 · 2 days' restOUT Gra. Williams missed 56 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Baugh missed 4 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Moore Jr. missed 2 since 3/23, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 2 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Simpson back 3/21 after 11, 23 min since (100% of 23)
BACK Salaün back 3/23 after 7, 25 min since (121% of 21)
BACK Okogie back 3/25 after 26, 16 min since (87% of 18)
NEW Smith Jr. 23 to 29 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT Gra. Williams missed 57 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Baugh missed 5 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Moore Jr. missed 3 since 3/23, returns tonight: 24 min (138% of 18)
OUT Gibson missed 3 since 3/23, returns tonight: 15 min (133% of 11)
BACK Simpson back 3/21 after 11, 24 min since (102% of 23)
BACK Salaün back 3/23 after 7, 25 min since (120% of 21)
BACK Okogie back 3/25 after 26, 16 min since (87% of 18)
NEW Smith Jr. 23 to 28 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 3/31 · back-to-backOUT Gra. Williams missed 58 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Baugh missed 6 since 3/20, out tonight
BACK Simpson back 3/21 after 11, 26 min since (112% of 23)
BACK Salaün back 3/23 after 7, 26 min since (125% of 21)
BACK Okogie back 3/25 after 26, 13 min since (72% of 18)
BACK Moore Jr. back 3/30 after 3, 24 min since (138% of 18)
BACK Gibson back 3/30 after 3, 15 min since (133% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 23 to 30 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Gra. Williams missed 59 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Baugh missed 7 since 3/20, returns tonight: 17 min (70% of 25)
BACK Salaün back 3/23 after 7, 26 min since (124% of 21)
BACK Okogie back 3/25 after 26, 13 min since (72% of 18)
BACK Moore Jr. back 3/30 after 3, 24 min since (138% of 18)
BACK Gibson back 3/30 after 3, 10 min since (91% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 23 to 29 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Gra. Williams missed 60 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Moore Jr. missed 2 since 3/31, out tonight
BACK Baugh back 4/02 after 7, 17 min since (70% of 25)
BACK Okogie back 3/25 after 26, 13 min since (71% of 18)
BACK Gibson back 3/30 after 3, 10 min since (91% of 11)
NEW Salaün 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Curry 16 to 22 min over the last 4
CHA availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Gra. Williams missed 61 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 4/02, returns tonight: 22 min (96% of 23)
OUT Moore Jr. missed 3 since 3/31, out tonight
BACK Baugh back 4/02 after 7, 17 min since (70% of 25)
BACK Gibson back 3/30 after 3, 12 min since (108% of 11)
NEW Mar. Williams 27 to 32 min over the last 3
NEW Simpson 23 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Salaün 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Curry 16 to 26 min over the last 4
CHA availability going into 4/08 · 1 day's restOUT Gra. Williams missed 62 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Baugh missed 2 since 4/04, out tonight
OUT Moore Jr. missed 4 since 3/31, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 4/06 after 2, 22 min since (96% of 23)
BACK Gibson back 3/30 after 3, 10 min since (92% of 11)
NEW Mar. Williams 27 to 32 min over the last 3
NEW Simpson 23 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Salaün 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Curry 16 to 24 min over the last 4
CHA availability going into 4/09 · back-to-backOUT Gra. Williams missed 63 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Baugh missed 3 since 4/04, returns tonight: 21 min (87% of 25)
OUT Moore Jr. missed 5 since 3/31, returns tonight: 26 min (148% of 18)
BACK Smith Jr. back 4/06 after 2, 18 min since (79% of 23)
NEW Mar. Williams 27 to 32 min over the last 4
NEW Simpson 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Salaün 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Curry 16 to 23 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restOUT Gra. Williams missed 64 since 11/25, not on tonight's roster
BACK Baugh back 4/02 after 7, 19 min since (79% of 25)
BACK Smith Jr. back 4/06 after 2, 24 min since (107% of 23)
BACK Moore Jr. back 4/09 after 5, 26 min since (148% of 18)
NEW Simpson 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Salaün 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Curry 16 to 23 min over the last 4
SAC availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Monk missed 3 since 3/22, returns tonight: 17 min (55% of 32)
OUT Crowder missed 32 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Sabonis back 3/24 after 3, 35 min since (102% of 35)
NEW Ellis 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Carter 11 to 16 min over the last 4
SAC availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Crowder missed 33 since 1/16, returns tonight: 7 min (58% of 11)
BACK Sabonis back 3/24 after 3, 35 min since (101% of 35)
BACK Monk back 3/27 after 3, 17 min since (55% of 32)
NEW Ellis 24 to 32 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restBACK Sabonis back 3/24 after 3, 34 min since (97% of 35)
BACK Monk back 3/27 after 3, 20 min since (63% of 32)
BACK Crowder back 3/29 after 33, 7 min since (58% of 11)
NEW Ellis 24 to 32 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restBACK Sabonis back 3/24 after 3, 35 min since (101% of 35)
BACK Monk back 3/27 after 3, 23 min since (72% of 32)
BACK Crowder back 3/29 after 33, 7 min since (58% of 11)
NEW Ellis 24 to 30 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Crowder missed 2 since 3/31, returns tonight: 5 min (40% of 11)
OUT Carter missed 2 since 3/31, returns tonight: 14 min (126% of 11)
BACK Monk back 3/27 after 3, 26 min since (82% of 32)
SAC availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restBACK Monk back 3/27 after 3, 25 min since (80% of 32)
BACK Crowder back 3/29 after 33, 6 min since (49% of 11)
BACK Carter back 4/04 after 2, 14 min since (126% of 11)
SAC availability going into 4/07 · back-to-backBACK Crowder back 3/29 after 33, 6 min since (49% of 11)
BACK Carter back 4/04 after 2, 10 min since (94% of 11)
SAC availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 2 since 4/06, out tonight
OUT Crowder missed 2 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Carter back 4/04 after 2, 14 min since (128% of 11)
NEW Ellis 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Lyles 20 to 26 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 3 since 4/06, returns tonight: 32 min (93% of 34)
OUT Crowder missed 3 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Carter back 4/04 after 2, 15 min since (137% of 11)
NEW Ellis 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Lyles 20 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.
Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Bridges at 17 and Mar. Williams at 15 a game. Without Gra. Williams (60 straight), Moore Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; DeRozan at 22 and LaVine at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the defense, Charlotte allowing 108 a night to Sacramento's 115. Call it Charlotte 111, Sacramento 110, Sacramento keeping it close.
3/28 @ TOR 97-108 — CHA notes
CHA lost 97-108. CHA shot 41% (39 of 96) to TOR's 44%, 9 of 31 from three. CHA turned it over 17 times to TOR's 6, and TOR turned those into 9 steals. The glass went 56-45 for them. Williams led with 18 (9 of 9); Jeffries added 15, Simpson 14. Q2 was theirs, 27-17, the deficit cut from 12 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 91-70 against them. Bridges's -13 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/30 @ NOP 94-98 — CHA notes
CHA lost 94-98. CHA shot 35% (32 of 91) to NOP's 41%, 8 of 33 from three, and went to the line 25 times to NOP's 17 — 22 points from the stripe to their 13. Bridges led with 20 (7 of 16, 1 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Smith Jr. added 19, Nurkić 13. Q2 was theirs, 27-22, but the other 3 periods went 76-67 against them. They led by as many as 13. Smith Jr.'s -12 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/31 vs UTA 110-106 — CHA notes
CHA won 110-106. CHA shot 54% (43 of 80) to UTA's 41%, 15 of 38 from three. CHA turned it over 18 times to UTA's 10, and UTA turned those into 13 steals. Bridges led with 26 (11 of 17, 3 of 6 from three); Williams added 18, Green 14. The hinge was Q1, 28-21: from level to 7 ahead. Bridges was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
4/02 @ IND 105-119 — CHA notes
CHA lost 105-119. CHA shot 53% (41 of 78) to IND's 49%, 10 of 24 from three, and went to the line 18 times to IND's 10 — 13 points from the stripe to their 7. CHA turned it over 18 times to IND's 6, and IND turned those into 10 steals. Bridges led with 18 (7 of 10, 2 of 3 from three); Williams added 16, Curry 16. Q4 was theirs, 32-32, but the other 3 periods went 87-73 against them. Salaün's -19 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/04 vs SAC 102-125 — CHA notes
CHA lost 102-125. CHA shot 40% (33 of 83) to SAC's 49%, 8 of 35 from three, and went to the line 34 times to SAC's 23 — 28 points from the stripe to their 19. CHA turned it over 12 times to SAC's 6. Bridges led with 22 (7 of 21, 2 of 11 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Diabaté added 15, Simpson 13. Q4 was theirs, 30-27, the deficit cut from 26 to 23, but the other 3 periods went 98-72 against them. Bridges's -25 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/06 vs CHI — 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 102 a night and allowing 111, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Bridges at 19 and Mar. Williams at 17 a game. Without Gra. Williams (61 straight), Smith Jr. (2 straight), Moore Jr. (3 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; White at 23 and Vučević at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Ball (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Charlotte allowing 111 a night to Chicago's 123 and the arc, Chicago at 39 percent from three to Charlotte's 31. Call it Chicago 115, Charlotte 114, Charlotte keeping it close.
4/08 vs MEM — 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 106 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 25 free throws a game; Bridges at 19 and Mar. Williams at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Gra. Williams (62 straight), Baugh (2 straight), Moore Jr. (4 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Morant at 28 and Bane at 23 a game. Without Williams Jr. (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Memphis at 36 percent from three to Charlotte's 31. Call it Memphis 115, Charlotte 113, Charlotte keeping it close.
4/09 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 15 free throws a game; Barrett at 21 and Walter at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Barnes (2 straight), Castleton (7 straight), Boucher (20 straight). 2 days' rest. Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; Bridges at 18 and Mar. Williams at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Gra. Williams (63 straight), Baugh (3 straight), Moore Jr. (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the line, where Charlotte takes 25 free throws a game to Toronto's 15 and the arc, Toronto at 39 percent from three to Charlotte's 32. Call it Toronto 117, Charlotte 109.
4/11 @ 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 109 a night and allowing 106, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 15 free throws a game; Tatum at 24 and Brown at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Horford (2 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 25 free throws a game; Nurkić at 16 and Bridges at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Gra. Williams (64 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 106 a night to Charlotte's 125 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-6 a night and Charlotte minus-4. Call it Boston 117, Charlotte 105, Boston by 12.
3/27 vs POR 128-107 — SAC notes
SAC won 128-107. SAC shot 65% (48 of 74) to POR's 40%, 10 of 27 from three. SAC turned it over 20 times to POR's 10, and POR turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 46-32 for them. LaVine led with 29 (13 of 18, 2 of 5 from three); Sabonis added 22, DeRozan 21. The hinge was Q1, 36-27: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 23. LaVine was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/29 @ ORL 91-121 — SAC notes
SAC lost 91-121. SAC shot 42% (34 of 81) to ORL's 49%, 7 of 28 from three. DeRozan led with 21 (7 of 11, 2 of 3 from three); Sabonis added 14, LaVine 10. Q2 was theirs, 25-23, the deficit cut from 17 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 98-66 against them. Murray's -35 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/31 @ IND 109-111 — SAC notes
SAC lost 109-111. SAC shot 47% (43 of 92) to IND's 47%, 12 of 27 from three. DeRozan led with 31 (12 of 24, 2 of 6 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Sabonis added 25, LaVine 20. Q2 was theirs, 32-27, but the other 3 periods went 84-77 against them. They led by as many as 16. LaVine's -13 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/02 @ WAS 111-116 — SAC notes
SAC lost 111-116. SAC took 11 more shots (95 to 84), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to WAS's 51%, 10 of 39 from three, and went to the line 28 times to WAS's 18 — 21 points from the stripe to their 13. DeRozan led with 29 (10 of 23, 1 of 5 from three, 8 of 12 at the line); Sabonis added 18, Murray 18. Q4 was theirs, 34-25, the deficit cut from 14 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 91-77 against them.
4/04 @ CHA 125-102 — SAC notes
SAC won 125-102. SAC shot 49% (45 of 91) to CHA's 40%, 16 of 36 from three, and got to the line 23 times to CHA's 34. SAC turned it over 6 times to CHA's 12. LaVine led with 25 (9 of 19, 4 of 7 from three); Sabonis added 24, DeRozan 22. The hinge was Q2, 42-31: a lead of 8 became 19, and the lead reached 30. Monk was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
4/06 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Mitchell at 28 and Allen at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Wade (2 straight), Jerome (5 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 25 and Sabonis at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Sacramento allowing 111 a night to Cleveland's 118. Call it Cleveland 119, Sacramento 114.
4/07 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 116, shooting 42 percent and 33 from three, 28 free throws a game; Hardaway Jr. at 21 and Beasley at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Harris (2 straight), Smith (16 straight), Harper Jr. (28 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; DeRozan at 26 and LaVine at 22 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-1 a night and Detroit minus-8 and the line, where Detroit takes 28 free throws a game to Sacramento's 22. Call it Detroit 116, Sacramento 112, Sacramento keeping it close.
4/09 vs DEN — 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 112, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 29 and LaVine at 29 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Murray (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 52 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 40 and Braun at 20 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Murray (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Denver giving it away 17 times a game to Sacramento's 10 and the arc, Sacramento at 39 percent from three to Denver's 33. Call it Sacramento 119, Denver 115, Denver keeping it close.
4/11 vs LAC — 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 114, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; LaVine at 30 and DeRozan at 28 a game. Without Murray (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 105, shooting 53 percent and 45 from three, 19 free throws a game; Leonard at 25 and Harden at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Coffey (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 45 percent from three to Sacramento's 39 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 105 a night to Sacramento's 114. Call it the Clippers 115, Sacramento 114, Sacramento keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SACDC D. Carter
DD D. DeRozan
DM D. McDermott
DS D. Sabonis
IJ I. Jones
JC J. Crowder
JV J. Valančiūnas
KE K. Ellis
KM K. Murray
MF M. Fultz
MM M. Monk
TL T. Lyles
ZL Z. LaVine
CHADJ D. Jeffries
JN J. Nurkić
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Sims
KS K. Simpson
MB M. Bridges
MD M. Diabaté
NU Nurkic
SC S. Curry
SA Salaun
TG T. Gibson
TS T. Salaün
SAC/CHA 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
Kings beat Hornets 125-102 to maintain hold on 10th spot in the West
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- — Zach LaVine had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Domantas Sabonis added 24 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists and the Sacramento Kings rolled past the Charlotte Hornets 125-102 on Friday night to remain in 10th place in the Western Conference standings.
DeMar DeRozan added 22 points to help the Kings win for only the second time in their last nine games.
Sabonis was on pace for his 68th career triple-double before leaving the game with three minutes left in the third quarter after taking a knee to his right thigh. He did not return for his normal rotation in the third quarter with the Kings well in control and the team did not announce any injury.
Miles Bridges had 22 points, and Moussa Diabate added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets.
The Kings held a 1/2-game lead over Phoenix Suns for the final spot in the play-in tournament entering the game and wasted little time with the injury-riddled Hornets. Sacramento built a 19-point lead at halftime behind Sabonis, who had 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists at the break.
Takeaways Kings: Malik Monk scored 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting off the bench against his former team.
Hornets: Bridges was the only opening night starter still on the floor for Charlotte. LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller have already been ruled out for the season, and were joined on the bench by Mark Williams (thoracic muscle spasms) and Josh Green (shoulder soreness).
Key moment After falling behind 10-4 early, the Kings closed the first quarter on a 22-8 run to take control of the game and were never seriously challenged again.
Key stat Charlotte's starters were 5 of 24 from 3-point range.
Up next Both teams are in action Sunday with the Kings visiting the Cavaliers and the Hornets hosting the Bulls.