Game ID: 22400862
Sacramento Kings @ Houston Rockets
Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 21 38 23 21 103SAC 25 38 26 24 113
HOU vs SAC ScoutingHOU 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.
HOU availability going into 2/21 · 7 days' restOUT VanVleet missed 7 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 22 since 1/03, returns tonight: 38 min (131% of 29)
OUT Dante missed 55 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Landale back 2/06 after 2, 18 min since (155% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 2/09 after 4, 20 min since (178% of 12)
NEW Eason 24 to 31 min over the last 3
NEW Whitmore 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 13 to 22 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 2/22 · back-to-backOUT VanVleet missed 8 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 56 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 38 min since (131% of 29)
BACK Jef. Green back 2/09 after 4, 20 min since (178% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Eason 24 to 30 min over the last 3
NEW Holiday 13 to 21 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 2/25 · 2 days' restOUT VanVleet missed 9 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 57 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 34 min since (116% of 29)
BACK Jef. Green back 2/09 after 4, 21 min since (184% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 13 to 25 min over the last 4
NEW Landale 12 to 17 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 2/26 · back-to-backOUT VanVleet missed 10 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Adams missed 2 since 2/22, returns tonight: 19 min (128% of 15)
OUT Dante missed 58 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 33 min since (115% of 29)
NEW Eason 24 to 31 min over the last 3
NEW Holiday 13 to 22 min over the last 4
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 19 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 3/01 · 2 days' restOUT VanVleet missed 11 since 2/03, returns tonight: 35 min (97% of 36)
OUT Dante missed 59 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 33 min since (114% of 29)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 19 min since (128% of 15)
NEW Holiday 13 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 19 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Dante missed 60 since 10/23, returns tonight: 19 min (146% of 13)
BACK VanVleet back 3/01 after 11, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 31 min since (106% of 29)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 13 min since (90% of 15)
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 18 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 3/04 · back-to-backBACK VanVleet back 3/01 after 11, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 13 min since (90% of 15)
BACK Dante back 3/03 after 60, 19 min since (146% of 13)
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 18 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 14 min since (95% of 15)
BACK Dante back 3/03 after 60, 19 min since (146% of 13)
NEW Sheppard 12 to 17 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 3 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 2 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 3/04, returns tonight: 6 min (51% of 12)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 15 min since (103% of 15)
NEW Thompson 32 to 37 min over the last 4
SAC availability going into 2/13 · back-to-backOUT Crowder missed 14 since 1/16, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 3 since 2/08, out tonight
SAC availability going into 2/21 · 7 days' restOUT Crowder missed 15 since 1/16, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 4 since 2/08, returns tonight: 3 min (27% of 11)
NEW Monk 32 to 39 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 2/24 · 2 days' restOUT Crowder missed 16 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Carter back 2/21 after 4, 3 min since (27% of 11)
NEW Monk 32 to 37 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Crowder missed 17 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Carter back 2/21 after 4, 5 min since (44% of 11)
NEW Monk 32 to 37 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 3/01 · 2 days' restOUT Crowder missed 18 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Carter back 2/21 after 4, 5 min since (44% of 11)
SAC availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Crowder missed 19 since 1/16, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 2 since 2/26, out tonight
SAC availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Crowder missed 20 since 1/16, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 3 since 2/26, out tonight
SAC availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Sabonis missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Crowder missed 21 since 1/16, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 4 since 2/26, returns tonight: 14 min (131% of 11)
NEW Valančiūnas 17 to 23 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Sabonis missed 3 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Monk missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Crowder missed 22 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Carter back 3/07 after 4, 14 min since (131% of 11)
NEW Ellis 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Valančiūnas 17 to 25 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 109, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without VanVleet (11 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; LaVine at 26 and DeRozan at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Houston 115, Sacramento 112, Sacramento keeping it close.
2/21 vs MIN 121-115 — HOU notes
HOU won 121-115. HOU shot 50% (42 of 84) to MIN's 45%, 13 of 26 from three, and went to the line 32 times to MIN's 26 — 24 points from the stripe to their 22. HOU turned it over 20 times to MIN's 9, and MIN turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 48-35 for them. Green led with 35 (12 of 24, 5 of 11 from three, 6 of 9 at the line); Sengun added 24, Thompson 17. The hinge was Q1, 48-38: from level to 10 ahead. Green was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
2/22 @ UTA 115-124 — HOU notes
HOU lost 115-124. HOU shot 44% (44 of 100) to UTA's 50%, 17 of 43 from three, and got to the line 18 times to UTA's 27. The glass went 41-58 against them. Sengun led with 27 (11 of 24, 1 of 3 from three, 4 of 8 at the line); Ja. Green added 25, Thompson 22. Q2 was theirs, 34-27, turning a 1-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 97-81 against them. Ja. Green's -10 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/25 vs MIL 100-97 — HOU notes
HOU won 100-97. HOU shot 41% (37 of 91) to MIL's 40%, 12 of 35 from three. The glass went 53-37 for them. Ja. Green led with 25 (9 of 20, 5 of 11 from three); Sengun added 23, Brooks 16. The hinge was Q1, 30-25: from level to 5 ahead. HOU trailed 57-59 at the half and won the second half 43-38. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
2/26 vs SAS 118-106 — HOU notes
HOU won 118-106. HOU shot 47% (48 of 102) to SAS's 42%, 11 of 38 from three, and got to the line 14 times to SAS's 21. HOU turned it over 14 times to SAS's 8, and SAS turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 60-41 for them. Thompson led with 25 (12 of 15, 1 of 3 from three); Ja. Green added 21, Brooks 19. The hinge was Q1, 34-20: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 28. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/01 vs SAC 103-113 — HOU notes
HOU lost 103-113. HOU shot 43% (37 of 86) to SAC's 51%, 13 of 35 from three. Sengun led with 30 (10 of 16, 10 of 17 at the line); Green added 24, Eason 14. Q2 was theirs, 38-38, but the other 3 periods went 75-65 against them. Brooks's -14 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/03 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 134 a night and allowing 125, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Jal. Williams at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Green at 26 and Sengun at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 111 a night to OKC's 125 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and OKC minus-0. Call it OKC 119, Houston 113.
3/04 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 53 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Haliburton at 23 and Siakam at 20 a game. Without Mathurin (2 straight), Isa. Jackson (53 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 22 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-3 a night and Indiana minus-3. Call it Indiana 117, Houston 112.
3/06 @ NOP — 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 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Williamson at 26 and Murphy III at 18 a game. Without Brooks Jr. (9 straight), Boston (10 straight), Payton (40 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Green at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without VanVleet (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and New Orleans minus-0 and the defense, Houston allowing 114 a night to New Orleans's 120. Call it New Orleans 115, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
3/08 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Green at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without VanVleet (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Williamson at 27 and Murphy III at 19 a game. Without Brooks Jr. (10 straight), Boston (11 straight), Payton (41 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and New Orleans minus-2 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 16 times a game to New Orleans's 11. Call it Houston 117, New Orleans 111.
2/13 @ NOP 133-140 — SAC notes
SAC lost 133-140 in 1 overtime. SAC took 20 more shots (112 to 92), fed by 21 offensive rebounds, but shot 44% to NOP's 50%, 17 of 47 from three, and got to the line 21 times to NOP's 34. The glass went 58-45 for them. LaVine led with 32 (12 of 24, 5 of 12 from three); Monk added 24, Sabonis 22. Q2 was theirs, 36-32, but the other 4 periods went 108-97 against them.
2/21 vs GSW 108-132 — SAC notes
SAC lost 108-132. SAC shot 51% (40 of 79) to GSW's 54%, 11 of 32 from three, and went to the line 18 times to GSW's 12 — 17 points from the stripe to their 12. SAC turned it over 21 times to GSW's 12, and GSW turned those into 13 steals. DeRozan led with 34 (10 of 14, 4 of 7 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Sabonis added 14, LaVine 13. Q3 was theirs, 30-32, but the other 3 periods went 100-78 against them. LaVine's -24 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/24 vs CHA 130-88 — SAC notes
SAC won 130-88. SAC shot 54% (47 of 87) to CHA's 35%, 20 of 38 from three, and got to the line 18 times to CHA's 24. The glass went 49-37 for them. LaVine led with 42 (16 of 19, 8 of 9 from three); DeRozan added 18, Monk 13. The hinge was Q4, 42-16: a lead of 16 became 42, and the lead reached 45. LaVine was the night's best plus/minus at +36.
2/26 @ UTA 118-101 — SAC notes
SAC won 118-101. SAC shot 53% (46 of 87) to UTA's 45%, 15 of 36 from three. The glass went 47-34 for them. Murray led with 26 (9 of 16, 5 of 10 from three); LaVine added 22, DeRozan 19. The hinge was Q2, 33-24: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Ellis was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
3/01 @ HOU 113-103 — SAC notes
SAC won 113-103. SAC shot 51% (44 of 87) to HOU's 43%, 9 of 28 from three. DeRozan led with 21 (7 of 18, 1 of 5 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); LaVine added 20, Monk 16. The hinge was Q1, 25-21: from level to 4 ahead, and the lead reached 16. LaVine was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/03 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 113, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Irving at 29 and Thompson at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Davis (8 straight), Lively II (21 straight), Gafford (7 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; LaVine at 26 and DeRozan at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-9 a night and Dallas minus-12 and the arc, Sacramento at 40 percent from three to Dallas's 35. Call it Dallas 115, Sacramento 114, Sacramento keeping it close.
3/05 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Murray at 22 and Jokić at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Gordon (2 straight), Watson (13 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 104, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 16 free throws a game; LaVine at 24 and DeRozan at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. 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 defense, Sacramento allowing 104 a night to Denver's 118. Call it Sacramento 116, Denver 115, Denver keeping it close.
3/07 vs SAS — 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 119 a night and allowing 101, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 15 free throws a game; LaVine at 25 and DeRozan at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Sabonis (2 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Vassell at 20 and Castle at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Sacramento allowing 101 a night to San Antonio's 123 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-5 a night and San Antonio minus-6. Call it Sacramento 120, San Antonio 111.
3/09 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Harden at 26 and Leonard at 24 a game. Without Powell (3 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 105, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 16 free throws a game; LaVine at 24 and DeRozan at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Sabonis (3 straight), Monk (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 42 percent from three to the Clippers' 34 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-6 a night and the Clippers minus-1. Call it Sacramento 112, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JS J. Smith Jr.
JG Ja. Green
SA S. Adams
TE T. Eason
SACDD D. DeRozan
DS D. Sabonis
JL J. LaRavia
JV J. Valančiūnas
KE K. Ellis
KM K. Murray
MF M. Fultz
MM M. Monk
TL T. Lyles
ZL Z. LaVine
HOU/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
Kings overcome the loss of Sabonis to beat the Rockets 113-103 for their 3rd straight victory
HOUSTON -- — DeMar DeRozan had 21 points and the Sacramento Kings overcome an early injury to Domantas Sabonis for their third straight victory, 113-103 over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.
Zach LaVine added 20 points for Sacramento. The Kings had a 13-3 run to push their advantage to 97-85 with 10 minutes remaining. LaVine and Keon Ellis had 3-pointers in that stretch and DeRozan scored the last five points.
Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Jalen Green added 24 points in the loss that ended a two-game winning streak.
Sabonis, who entered the game averaging 19.9 points and 14.4 rebounds, left about a minute into the game with a hamstring injury and didn’t return. He was running down the court when he pulled up and grabbed his left hamstring.
Takeaways Kings: Sacramento used a balanced scoring attack to make up for the loss of Sabonis with six players finishing with at least 12 points.
Rockets: Fred VanVleet was rusty in his return after missing 11 games with a strained right ankle, going 1 for 8 with three points in 35 minutes. The veteran needs to get back on track quickly to help stabilize an offense that has struggled at times in his absence.
Key moment LaVine’s 3-pointer late in the third quarter which started the big run that allowed the Kings to pull away.
Key stat The Kings outscored Houston 58-44 in the paint.
Up next The Rockets visit Oklahoma City on Monday night, and the Kings visit Dallas that night.