Game ID: 22400626
Sacramento Kings @ Denver Nuggets
Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 9:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 40 34 36 22 132SAC 31 21 33 38 123
DEN vs SAC ScoutingDEN 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.
DEN availability going into 1/15 · back-to-backOUT Šarić missed 3 since 1/10, returns tonight: 19 min (144% of 13)
BACK Jokić back 1/10 after 2, 35 min since (94% of 37)
BACK Gordon back 1/12 after 9, 18 min since (59% of 30)
BACK Nnaji back 1/07 after 2, 4 min since (42% of 10)
NEW Watson 23 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 20 to 27 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/17 · 1 day's restBACK Jokić back 1/10 after 2, 35 min since (94% of 37)
BACK Gordon back 1/12 after 9, 18 min since (59% of 30)
BACK Šarić back 1/15 after 3, 19 min since (144% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 1/14 after 2, 5 min since (46% of 10)
NEW Watson 23 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 20 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/19 · 1 day's restBACK Jokić back 1/10 after 2, 34 min since (91% of 37)
BACK Gordon back 1/12 after 9, 19 min since (64% of 30)
BACK Šarić back 1/15 after 3, 19 min since (144% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 1/14 after 2, 4 min since (38% of 10)
NEW Strawther 20 to 25 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/21 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 2 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/12 after 9, 20 min since (66% of 30)
BACK Nnaji back 1/14 after 2, 3 min since (34% of 10)
DEN availability going into 1/23 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 3 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Nnaji back 1/14 after 2, 4 min since (37% of 10)
NEW Jordan 12 to 17 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/25 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 4 since 1/17, out tonight
DEN availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 5 since 1/17, out tonight
DEN availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 6 since 1/17, out tonight
DEN availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 7 since 1/17, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 2 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 1/27, out tonight
SAC availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restOUT Crowder missed 12 since 12/19, returns tonight: 3 min (23% of 11)
BACK Fox back 1/12 after 3, 33 min since (89% of 37)
BACK Murray back 1/05 after 2, 36 min since (104% of 34)
NEW Monk 32 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Ellis 24 to 30 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restBACK Fox back 1/12 after 3, 35 min since (95% of 37)
BACK Murray back 1/05 after 2, 36 min since (105% of 34)
BACK Crowder back 1/14 after 12, 3 min since (23% of 11)
NEW Monk 32 to 38 min over the last 4
SAC availability going into 1/19 · 2 days' restBACK Fox back 1/12 after 3, 37 min since (99% of 37)
BACK Crowder back 1/14 after 12, 3 min since (23% of 11)
NEW Sabonis 35 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Monk 32 to 40 min over the last 4
SAC availability going into 1/22 · 2 days' restOUT Crowder missed 2 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Fox back 1/12 after 3, 36 min since (98% of 37)
SAC availability going into 1/23 · back-to-backOUT Crowder missed 3 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Fox back 1/12 after 3, 36 min since (98% of 37)
SAC availability going into 1/25 · 1 day's restOUT Crowder missed 4 since 1/16, out tonight
SAC availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Crowder missed 5 since 1/16, out tonight
SAC availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Crowder missed 6 since 1/16, out tonight
SAC availability going into 2/01 · 2 days' restOUT Crowder missed 7 since 1/16, out tonight
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 110, shooting 55 percent and 45 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murray at 25 and Jokić at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 12 a night. One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 28 and Sabonis at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-12 a night and Sacramento minus-0 and the arc, Denver at 45 percent from three to Sacramento's 37. Call it Denver 121, Sacramento 114.
1/15 vs HOU 108-128 — DEN notes
DEN lost 108-128. DEN shot 53% (40 of 75) to HOU's 52%, 14 of 29 from three. DEN turned it over 18 times to HOU's 8, and HOU turned those into 14 steals. Braun led with 22 (10 of 11, 2 of 3 from three); Murray added 22, Westbrook 17. Q4 was theirs, 27-26, the deficit cut from 21 to 20, but the other 3 periods went 102-81 against them. Porter Jr.'s -20 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/17 @ MIA 133-113 — DEN notes
DEN won 133-113. DEN shot 54% (50 of 92) to MIA's 49%, 16 of 33 from three. Murray led with 30 (12 of 24, 2 of 7 from three); Jokić added 24, Gordon 16. The hinge was Q4, 35-27: a lead of 12 became 20, and the lead reached 23. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
1/19 @ ORL 113-100 — DEN notes
DEN won 113-100. DEN shot 52% (40 of 77) to ORL's 37%, 7 of 25 from three, and went to the line 31 times to ORL's 16 — 26 points from the stripe to their 12. DEN turned it over 20 times to ORL's 7, and ORL turned those into 15 steals. The glass went 57-39 for them. Braun led with 20 (6 of 10, 1 of 3 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Jokić added 20, Murray 19. The hinge was Q3, 39-25: a lead of 2 became 16, and the lead reached 24. Braun was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/21 vs PHI 144-109 — DEN notes
DEN won 144-109. DEN shot 61% (52 of 85) to PHI's 46%, 16 of 31 from three, and went to the line 25 times to PHI's 8 — 24 points from the stripe to their 6. The glass went 51-25 for them. Jokić led with 27 (10 of 15, 2 of 3 from three); Strawther added 23, Braun 20. The hinge was Q3, 40-27: a lead of 10 became 23, and the lead reached 35. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
1/23 vs SAC 132-123 — DEN notes
DEN won 132-123. DEN shot 49% (49 of 101) to SAC's 44%, 13 of 37 from three, and went to the line 31 times to SAC's 19 — 21 points from the stripe to their 14. Jokić led with 35 (12 of 19, 2 of 3 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Braun added 21, Porter Jr. 20. The hinge was Q2, 34-21: a lead of 9 became 22, and the lead reached 25.
1/25 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 42 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Reid at 19 a game. Without DiVincenzo (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 115, shooting 54 percent and 43 from three, 25 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Murray at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-9 a night and Minnesota plus-0. Call it Minnesota 116, Denver 115, Denver keeping it close.
1/27 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; LaVine at 26 and Vučević at 20 a game. Without White (3 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 116, shooting 53 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jokić at 25 and Murray at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-8 a night and Chicago plus-1 and the arc, Denver at 40 percent from three to Chicago's 34. Call it Denver 119, Chicago 115, Chicago keeping it close.
1/29 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 24 and Bridges at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 119, shooting 52 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Braun at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 109 a night to Denver's 119 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-7 a night and New York plus-0. Call it New York 120, Denver 114.
1/31 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Maxey at 32 and Oubre Jr. at 17 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without George (2 straight), C. Martin (10 straight), Embiid (13 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 123, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Murray at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-5 a night and Philadelphia minus-8 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 116 a night to Denver's 123. Call it Philadelphia 118, Denver 116, Denver keeping it close.
1/14 @ MIL 115-130 — SAC notes
SAC lost 115-130. SAC shot 44% (42 of 95) to MIL's 49%, 17 of 42 from three. DeRozan led with 28 (9 of 18, 2 of 4 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Fox added 20, Ellis 18. Q4 was theirs, 33-28, the deficit cut from 20 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 102-82 against them. Huerter's -24 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/16 vs HOU 132-127 — SAC notes
SAC won 132-127. SAC shot 50% (49 of 98) to HOU's 53%, 14 of 33 from three. DeRozan led with 33 (12 of 23, 2 of 4 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Monk added 26, Sabonis 20. The hinge was Q2, 35-27: a lead of 1 became 9, and the lead reached 16. Sabonis was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
1/19 vs WAS 123-100 — SAC notes
SAC won 123-100. SAC shot 48% (46 of 95) to WAS's 36%, 12 of 39 from three, and got to the line 24 times to WAS's 32. SAC turned it over 11 times to WAS's 16. Sabonis led with 29 (12 of 16, 2 of 3 from three); DeRozan added 24, Monk 23. The hinge was Q4, 33-23: a lead of 13 became 23. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
1/22 vs GSW 123-117 — SAC notes
SAC won 123-117. SAC shot 51% (41 of 81) to GSW's 47%, 11 of 30 from three, and went to the line 32 times to GSW's 13 — 30 points from the stripe to their 9. SAC turned it over 8 times to GSW's 19. DeRozan led with 32 (12 of 21, 3 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Sabonis added 26, Monk 20. The hinge was Q3, 37-20: SAC came in trailing by 17 and left it level. SAC trailed 48-65 at the half and won the second half 75-52. DeRozan was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
1/23 @ DEN 123-132 — SAC notes
SAC lost 123-132. SAC shot 44% (47 of 107) to DEN's 49%, 15 of 41 from three, and got to the line 19 times to DEN's 31. DeRozan led with 24 (9 of 16, 6 of 8 at the line); Sabonis added 23, Fox 17. Q4 was theirs, 38-22, the deficit cut from 25 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 110-85 against them. Sabonis's -18 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/25 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brunson at 29 and Towns at 21 a game. 3 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 28 and Sabonis at 23 a game. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 113 a night to Sacramento's 121. Call it New York 117, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.
1/27 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 96 a night and allowing 108, shooting 40 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Russell at 18 and K. Johnson at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without C. Johnson (2 straight), Thomas (12 straight), Simmons (4 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 26 and Sabonis at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 108 a night to Sacramento's 124 and the arc, Sacramento at 37 percent from three to Brooklyn's 31. Call it Sacramento 115, Brooklyn 111, Brooklyn keeping it close.
1/29 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Maxey at 34 and Oubre Jr. at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without C. Martin (9 straight), Embiid (12 straight), Drummond (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sabonis at 25 and DeRozan at 23 a game. One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been minus-3 a night and Philadelphia minus-8. Call it Sacramento 117, Philadelphia 114, Philadelphia keeping it close.
2/01 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 40 and Jal. Williams at 27 a game. Without Holmgren (36 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; DeRozan at 22 and Sabonis at 22 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 112 a night to Sacramento's 121. Call it OKC 119, Sacramento 111.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
DJ D. Jordan
JM J. Murray
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RW R. Westbrook
SACDC D. Carter
DD D. DeRozan
DF D. Fox
DM D. McDermott
DS D. Sabonis
KE K. Ellis
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
TL T. Lyles
DEN/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
Nikola Jokic has 5th straight triple-double to help the Nuggets beat the Kings, 132-123
DENVER -- — Nikola Jokic had his fifth straight triple-double before the fourth quarter, finishing with 35 points, 22 rebounds and a season-high 17 assists to help the Denver Nuggets beat the Sacramento Kings 132-123 on Thursday night.
Jokic has an NBA-leading 20 triple-doubles this season, 14 before the fourth quarter. He had 20 points and 20 rebounds before the end of the third quarter.
The Nuggets led by 22 at halftime and used a 14-5 run at the end of the third, capped by Jokic’s 66-foot heave at the buzzer, to take a 25-point lead.
Domantas Sabonis had 23 points and 17 rebounds for Sacramento. The Kings lost for the third time in 13 games since Doug Christie took over as the interim coach.
The Kings scored the first 14 points of the fourth and got as close as 126-121.
Takeaways Kings: Faced a tough back-to-back after beating Golden State at home Wednesday night. They had a furious rally to make it close but could not make up a 25-point deficit.
Nuggets: Jokic, voted an All-Star starter, had 12 points in the fourth quarter. Christian Braun had 21 points and Michael Porter Jr . 20 points for Denver, which has won four straight.
Key moment The Kings could have packed it in after Jokic’s basket from three-quarter court but they got after Denver at the start of the fourth. It brought Jokic back in instead of taking off another fourth quarter.
Key stat Doug McDermott , who was taken by the Nuggets in 2014 and traded to Chicago on draft night, was 5 of 7 from 3-point range in the fourth quarter to get the Kings within two possessions.
Up next The Kings continue their six-game trip at New York on Saturday night. The Nuggets begin a five-game trip at Minnesota on Saturday.