Game ID: 22400059
Houston Rockets @ Sacramento Kings
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAC 21 33 42 24 120HOU 28 27 29 27 111
HOU @ SAC ScoutingHOU @ 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 11/25 · back-to-backOUT Monk missed 7 since 11/11, returns tonight: 26 min (82% of 32)
BACK DeRozan back 11/22 after 3, 36 min since (100% of 36)
BACK Sabonis back 11/22 after 2, 38 min since (109% of 35)
NEW Huerter 21 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Lyles 20 to 30 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 11/27 · 1 day's restBACK DeRozan back 11/22 after 3, 36 min since (100% of 36)
BACK Sabonis back 11/22 after 2, 37 min since (106% of 35)
BACK Monk back 11/25 after 7, 26 min since (82% of 32)
NEW Huerter 21 to 29 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 11/29 · 1 day's restBACK DeRozan back 11/22 after 3, 36 min since (100% of 36)
BACK Sabonis back 11/22 after 2, 36 min since (104% of 35)
BACK Monk back 11/25 after 7, 30 min since (96% of 32)
SAC availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT DeRozan missed 2 since 11/27, returns tonight: 37 min (103% of 36)
OUT Lyles missed 2 since 11/27, out tonight
BACK Sabonis back 11/22 after 2, 37 min since (107% of 35)
BACK Monk back 11/25 after 7, 32 min since (102% of 32)
SAC availability going into 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Lyles missed 3 since 11/27, out tonight
BACK DeRozan back 12/01 after 2, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Monk back 11/25 after 7, 33 min since (106% of 32)
NEW Crowder 11 to 20 min over the last 3
SAC availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Lyles missed 4 since 11/27, out tonight
BACK DeRozan back 12/01 after 2, 35 min since (98% of 36)
BACK Monk back 11/25 after 7, 34 min since (107% of 32)
NEW Crowder 11 to 18 min over the last 4
SAC availability going into 12/06 · back-to-backOUT Lyles missed 5 since 11/27, out tonight
BACK DeRozan back 12/01 after 2, 35 min since (99% of 36)
NEW Crowder 11 to 17 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Lyles missed 6 since 11/27, out tonight
BACK DeRozan back 12/01 after 2, 35 min since (96% of 36)
SAC availability going into 12/12 · 3 days' restOUT Lyles missed 7 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Crowder missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK DeRozan back 12/01 after 2, 34 min since (93% of 36)
HOU availability going into 11/23 · back-to-backOUT Dante missed 17 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 11/20 after 7, 5 min since (34% of 15)
BACK Jef. Green back 11/17 after 4, 7 min since (60% of 12)
HOU availability going into 11/26 · 2 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 2 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 18 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Jef. Green back 11/17 after 4, 7 min since (60% of 12)
HOU availability going into 11/27 · back-to-backOUT Whitmore missed 3 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Adams missed 2 since 11/23, returns tonight: 7 min (47% of 15)
OUT Dante missed 19 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 11/23, returns tonight: 6 min (46% of 13)
OUT Jef. Green missed 2 since 11/23, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 2 since 11/23, out tonight
HOU availability going into 12/01 · 3 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 4 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 20 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 3 since 11/23, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 3 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Adams back 11/27 after 2, 7 min since (47% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 11/27 after 2, 6 min since (46% of 13)
HOU availability going into 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 5 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 21 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 4 since 11/23, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 4 since 11/23, returns tonight: 2 min (17% of 11)
BACK Adams back 11/27 after 2, 5 min since (35% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 11/27 after 2, 6 min since (46% of 13)
HOU availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 6 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 22 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 3 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 5 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Adams back 11/27 after 2, 7 min since (47% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 11/27 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 13)
BACK Tate back 12/03 after 4, 2 min since (17% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 35 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/08 · 2 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 7 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 23 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 4 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 6 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Adams back 11/27 after 2, 10 min since (65% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 11/27 after 2, 8 min since (65% of 13)
BACK Tate back 12/03 after 4, 2 min since (17% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 35 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Eason missed 2 since 12/05, returns tonight: 24 min (101% of 24)
OUT Whitmore missed 8 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 24 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 5 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 7 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Adams back 11/27 after 2, 10 min since (66% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 11/27 after 2, 11 min since (86% of 13)
BACK Tate back 12/03 after 4, 10 min since (89% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 34 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/14 · 2 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 9 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 25 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 6 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 8 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Eason back 12/11 after 2, 24 min since (101% of 24)
BACK Tate back 12/03 after 4, 10 min since (89% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 37 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 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; DeRozan at 25 and Fox at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Lyles (3 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 30 free throws a game; Sengun at 20 and VanVleet at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Whitmore (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 107 a night to Sacramento's 117 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-6 a night and Houston plus-0. Call it Houston 114, Sacramento 111, Sacramento keeping it close.
11/25 vs OKC 109-130 — SAC notes
SAC lost 109-130. SAC shot 48% (42 of 87) to OKC's 56%, 8 of 32 from three. The glass went 31-44 against them. DeRozan led with 30 (13 of 21); Sabonis added 21, Fox 14. Q2 was theirs, 32-32, but the other 3 periods went 98-77 against them. Fox's -22 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/27 @ MIN 115-104 — SAC notes
SAC won 115-104. SAC shot 49% (46 of 94) to MIN's 45%, 12 of 37 from three, and got to the line 15 times to MIN's 27. The glass went 47-33 for them. Monk led with 27 (11 of 16, 3 of 5 from three); Sabonis added 27, Fox 26. The hinge was Q4, 34-18: SAC came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 11. Crowder was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
11/29 @ POR 106-115 — SAC notes
SAC lost 106-115. SAC shot 45% (35 of 78) to POR's 51%, 15 of 42 from three, and went to the line 28 times to POR's 15 — 21 points from the stripe to their 12. SAC turned it over 20 times to POR's 11, and POR turned those into 10 steals. Monk led with 29 (10 of 21, 8 of 15 from three); Fox added 22, Sabonis 21. Q4 was theirs, 34-28, the deficit cut from 15 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 87-72 against them. Ellis's -19 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/01 vs SAS 125-127 — SAC notes
SAC lost 125-127. SAC took 19 more shots (101 to 82), fed by 21 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to SAS's 51%, 12 of 32 from three. SAC turned it over 10 times to SAS's 15. The glass went 51-38 for them. DeRozan led with 28 (10 of 20, 8 of 9 at the line); Sabonis added 25, Fox 23. Q1 was theirs, 42-28, but the other 3 periods went 99-83 against them. They led by as many as 17.
12/03 vs HOU 120-111 — SAC notes
SAC won 120-111. SAC shot 52% (47 of 91) to HOU's 44%, 14 of 30 from three. SAC turned it over 10 times to HOU's 15. The glass went 34-53 against them. Sabonis led with 27 (13 of 19); Fox added 22, Monk 17. The hinge was Q3, 42-29: SAC came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 12, and the lead reached 15. SAC trailed 54-55 at the half and won the second half 66-56. Monk was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/05 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 112, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Morant at 25 and Jackson Jr. at 19 a game. Without Edey (8 straight), Williams Jr. (7 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; DeRozan at 25 and Sabonis at 24 a game. Without Lyles (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Memphis 121, Sacramento 112.
12/06 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 120, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 26 and Vassell at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sabonis at 23 and DeRozan at 23 a game. Without Lyles (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-1 a night and San Antonio minus-5 and the defense, Sacramento allowing 114 a night to San Antonio's 120. Call it San Antonio 115, Sacramento 114, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/08 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; DeRozan at 23 and Sabonis at 22 a game. Without Lyles (6 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Collins at 18 and Markkanen at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Clarkson (6 straight), Hendricks (19 straight), Williams (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-9 a night and Sacramento minus-1 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 18 times a game to Sacramento's 13. Call it Sacramento 118, Utah 111.
12/12 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 121, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; McCollum at 19 and Murphy III at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Williamson (16 straight), Alvarado (14 straight), Hawkins (6 straight). 3 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; DeRozan at 22 and Sabonis at 22 a game. Without Lyles (7 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 41 percent from three to New Orleans's 31 and the glass, where Sacramento has been minus-0 a night and New Orleans minus-10. Call it Sacramento 119, New Orleans 111.
11/23 vs POR 98-104 — HOU notes
HOU lost 98-104. HOU shot 36% (32 of 90) to POR's 38%, 8 of 32 from three, and went to the line 33 times to POR's 23 — 26 points from the stripe to their 18. HOU turned it over 9 times to POR's 16. The glass went 43-53 against them. Sengun led with 22 (7 of 17, 8 of 11 at the line); Thompson added 19, Smith Jr. 14. Q2 was theirs, 29-26, the deficit cut from 5 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 78-69 against them. Green's -8 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/26 @ MIN 117-111 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-111 in 1 overtime. HOU shot 45% (45 of 99) to MIN's 43%, 15 of 37 from three, and got to the line 13 times to MIN's 20. HOU turned it over 10 times to MIN's 17. VanVleet led with 27 (10 of 25, 6 of 12 from three); Sengun added 22, Brooks 22. The hinge was Q1, 32-26: from level to 6 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
11/27 @ PHI 122-115 — HOU notes
HOU won 122-115 in 1 overtime. HOU shot 45% (40 of 88) to PHI's 45%, 10 of 31 from three, and went to the line 38 times to PHI's 23 — 32 points from the stripe to their 17. HOU turned it over 20 times to PHI's 14, and PHI turned those into 12 steals. Green led with 41 (12 of 20, 4 of 6 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); Sengun added 22, Thompson 19. The hinge was Q1, 35-24: from level to 11 ahead. VanVleet was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/01 vs OKC 119-116 — HOU notes
HOU won 119-116. HOU shot 41% (38 of 92) to OKC's 45%, 13 of 37 from three, and went to the line 39 times to OKC's 25 — 30 points from the stripe to their 19. VanVleet led with 38 (10 of 19, 5 of 9 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); Sengun added 20, Brooks 16. The hinge was Q4, 28-20: HOU came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 3. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
12/03 @ SAC 111-120 — HOU notes
HOU lost 111-120. HOU shot 44% (41 of 93) to SAC's 52%, 14 of 39 from three. HOU turned it over 15 times to SAC's 10. The glass went 53-34 for them. Green led with 28 (9 of 14, 5 of 8 from three); Sengun added 24, Eason 16. Q1 was theirs, 28-21, but the other 3 periods went 99-83 against them. They led by as many as 11. VanVleet's -21 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/05 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 114, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Curry at 22 and Wiggins at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Post (8 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 29 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and VanVleet at 20 a game. Without Whitmore (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 29 free throws a game to Golden State's 18. Call it Golden State 113, Houston 112, Houston keeping it close.
12/08 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Harden at 26 and Coffey at 12 a game. Without Porter Jr. (3 straight). 3 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and VanVleet at 21 a game. Without Whitmore (7 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 26 free throws a game to the Clippers' 19 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 105 a night to Houston's 112. Call it the Clippers 110, Houston 109, Houston keeping it close.
12/11 vs GSW — 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 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 28 free throws a game; Green at 25 and VanVleet at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Eason (2 straight), Whitmore (8 straight). 2 days' rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Curry at 25 and Kuminga at 19 a game. Without Post (11 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 28 free throws a game to Golden State's 21 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and Golden State plus-3. Call it Houston 112, Golden State 108, Golden State keeping it close.
12/14 @ 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 123 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Holmgren (14 straight). 3 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 106, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sengun at 19 and Green at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Whitmore (9 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 23 free throws a game to OKC's 16 and the arc, OKC at 37 percent from three to Houston's 32. Call it OKC 114, Houston 106.
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.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
TE T. Eason
SACAL A. Len
CJ C. Jones
DD D. DeRozan
DF D. Fox
DM D. McDermott
DS D. Sabonis
IJ I. Jones
JC J. Crowder
JM J. McLaughlin
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
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
The Kings make 15 straight shots to beat the Rockets 120-111
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- — Domantas Sabonis scored 27 points and Sacramento made 15 straight shots from the field to beat Houston 120-111 on Tuesday night and deny the Rockets the top seed in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
The shooting spree by the Kings turned an eight-point deficit late in the second quarter into a 12-point lead midway through the third to give the Kings their only win in four NBA Cup games.
De’Aaron Fox added 22 points, Malik Monk had 17 points and a career-high 12 assists, and DeMar DeRozan scored 16.
The Rockets won their first three games in the NBA Cup and could have clinched the top seed in the West with a win over the Kings. Houston will host Golden State in the quarterfinals.
Jalen Green scored 28 to lead Houston and Alperen Sengun added 24.
Takeaways Rockets: Houston had won three straight and 10 of 12 games before delivering a dud against Sacramento. The frustration led to coach Ime Udoka and Sengun getting ejected late in the fourth quarter.
Kings: Sacramento found its shooting touch after hitting less than 40% of its 3-point tries in six straight games. The Kings came into the day ranking sixth worst in the NBA by making 33.2% from 3 but went 14 for 30 against Houston.
Key moment The Kings shooting run began shortly after a heated moment between the teams after a hard foul by Fox against Jabari Smith Jr. There were three technicals issued with Monk getting one for Sacramento and Smith and Dillon Brooks getting them for Houston.
Key stat The Kings went nearly nine minutes of game action without missing a shot from the field. Sabonis and Fox each made four, DeRozan and Keegan Murray made three and Monk made one.
Up next The Rockets play at Golden State on Thursday night. The Kings travel to face Memphis.