Game ID: 22400576
Houston Rockets @ Sacramento Kings
Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 10:00 PM ET
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAC 26 35 29 42 132HOU 25 27 33 42 127
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 1/06 · back-to-backOUT Crowder missed 9 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Murray back 1/05 after 2, 26 min since (77% of 34)
SAC availability going into 1/10 · 3 days' restOUT Fox missed 2 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Crowder missed 10 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Murray back 1/05 after 2, 35 min since (102% of 34)
NEW Ellis 24 to 33 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Fox missed 3 since 1/05, returns tonight: 33 min (89% of 37)
OUT Crowder missed 11 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Murray back 1/05 after 2, 36 min since (104% of 34)
NEW Ellis 24 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Lyles 20 to 26 min over the last 5
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
HOU availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Eason missed 9 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 35 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 1/05 after 2, 41 min since (126% of 32)
BACK Brooks back 12/29 after 3, 36 min since (113% of 32)
BACK Sheppard back 1/03 after 2, 5 min since (40% of 12)
BACK Landale back 1/03 after 3, 5 min since (42% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 1/03 after 3, 29 min since (250% of 12)
HOU availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Eason missed 10 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 36 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 1/05 after 2, 41 min since (126% of 32)
BACK Brooks back 12/29 after 3, 32 min since (102% of 32)
BACK Landale back 1/03 after 3, 4 min since (34% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 1/03 after 3, 19 min since (167% of 12)
NEW Whitmore 15 to 21 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/13 · 3 days' restOUT Smith Jr. missed 4 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Eason missed 11 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 37 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 3 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 1/05 after 2, 39 min since (121% of 32)
BACK Landale back 1/03 after 3, 4 min since (34% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 1/03 after 3, 19 min since (167% of 12)
NEW Whitmore 15 to 21 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 5 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Eason missed 12 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 38 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 4 since 1/05, returns tonight: 6 min (51% of 12)
OUT Landale missed 2 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 2 since 1/09, returns tonight: 21 min (179% of 12)
BACK Thompson back 1/05 after 2, 40 min since (123% of 32)
NEW Whitmore 15 to 21 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/16 · back-to-backOUT Smith Jr. missed 6 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Eason missed 13 since 12/19, returns tonight: 24 min (101% of 24)
OUT Dante missed 39 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 3 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 1/05 after 2, 39 min since (120% of 32)
BACK Sheppard back 1/15 after 4, 6 min since (51% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 1/15 after 2, 21 min since (179% of 12)
HOU availability going into 1/18 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 7 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 40 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 4 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Eason back 1/16 after 13, 24 min since (101% of 24)
BACK Sheppard back 1/15 after 4, 6 min since (51% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 1/15 after 2, 22 min since (188% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 39 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 8 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 41 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 5 since 1/09, returns tonight: 10 min (87% of 12)
BACK Eason back 1/16 after 13, 24 min since (99% of 24)
BACK Sheppard back 1/15 after 4, 6 min since (46% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 1/15 after 2, 22 min since (188% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 38 min over the last 4
NEW Whitmore 15 to 22 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 9 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 42 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 2 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Eason back 1/16 after 13, 25 min since (102% of 24)
BACK Sheppard back 1/15 after 4, 6 min since (46% of 12)
BACK Landale back 1/20 after 5, 10 min since (87% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 39 min over the last 4
NEW Whitmore 15 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/25 · 2 days' restOUT Smith Jr. missed 10 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 43 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 3 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Eason back 1/16 after 13, 24 min since (98% of 24)
BACK Landale back 1/20 after 5, 10 min since (87% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 38 min over the last 4
NEW Whitmore 15 to 23 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 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; DeRozan at 23 and Monk at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 26 free throws a game; Green at 33 and Sengun at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Smith Jr. (6 straight), Eason (13 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 26 free throws a game to Sacramento's 19. Call it Sacramento 117, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
1/06 vs MIA 123-118 — SAC notes
SAC won 123-118 in 2 overtimes. SAC shot 42% (45 of 108) to MIA's 42%, 13 of 38 from three. DeRozan led with 30 (12 of 26, 1 of 4 from three); Monk added 23, Sabonis 21. The hinge was Q4, 34-24: SAC came in trailing by 10 and left it level. DeRozan was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
1/10 @ BOS 114-97 — SAC notes
SAC won 114-97. SAC shot 43% (44 of 102) to BOS's 40%, 18 of 47 from three, and got to the line 9 times to BOS's 22. SAC turned it over 9 times to BOS's 15. The glass went 56-43 for them. DeRozan led with 24 (9 of 26, 2 of 5 from three); Sabonis added 23, Monk 22. The hinge was Q4, 38-21: from level to 17 ahead. SAC trailed 53-55 at the half and won the second half 61-42. Monk was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
1/12 @ CHI 124-119 — SAC notes
SAC won 124-119. SAC shot 49% (47 of 95) to CHI's 46%, 13 of 39 from three. Fox led with 26 (9 of 16, 4 of 8 from three); Sabonis added 22, DeRozan 21. The hinge was Q3, 36-32: SAC came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 2. SAC trailed 61-63 at the half and won the second half 63-56. Lyles was the night's best plus/minus at +9.
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 — 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 122 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; DeRozan at 27 and Monk at 22 a game. 2 days' rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 129, shooting 42 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Poole at 22 and George at 12 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Brogdon (7 straight), Holmes (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-4 a night and Washington minus-12 and the defense, Sacramento allowing 118 a night to Washington's 129. Call it Sacramento 125, Washington 110, Sacramento by 15.
1/22 vs GSW — 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 122 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; DeRozan at 26 and Monk at 22 a game. 2 days' rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 113, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Curry at 25 and Wiggins at 20 a game. Without Podziemski (11 straight), Kuminga (8 straight), Anderson (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Sacramento 117, Golden State 109.
1/23 @ DEN — 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.
1/25 @ 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.
1/07 @ WAS 135-112 — HOU notes
HOU won 135-112. HOU shot 52% (50 of 97) to WAS's 46%, 15 of 38 from three. HOU turned it over 10 times to WAS's 18. Ja. Green led with 29 (10 of 22, 7 of 15 from three); Sengun added 26, Thompson 20. The hinge was Q3, 40-24: a lead of 2 became 18, and the lead reached 26. Holiday was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
1/09 @ MEM 119-115 — HOU notes
HOU won 119-115. HOU shot 43% (41 of 96) to MEM's 50%, 13 of 34 from three, and went to the line 41 times to MEM's 30 — 24 points from the stripe to their 21. HOU turned it over 12 times to MEM's 19. Sengun led with 32 (12 of 20, 7 of 15 at the line); Green added 27, VanVleet 22. The hinge was Q1, 45-36: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 17.
1/13 vs MEM 120-118 — HOU notes
HOU won 120-118. HOU shot 51% (41 of 81) to MEM's 54%, 16 of 31 from three, and went to the line 31 times to MEM's 21 — 22 points from the stripe to their 14. HOU turned it over 22 times to MEM's 17, and MEM turned those into 17 steals. Green led with 42 (13 of 18, 5 of 6 from three, 11 of 11 at the line); Thompson added 19, Sengun 17. The hinge was Q4, 33-26: HOU came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 2. HOU trailed 57-60 at the half and won the second half 63-58. Whitmore was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/15 @ DEN 128-108 — HOU notes
HOU won 128-108. HOU shot 52% (49 of 94) to DEN's 53%, 17 of 38 from three. HOU turned it over 8 times to DEN's 18. J. Green led with 34 (10 of 16, 6 of 10 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Sengun added 20, VanVleet 16. The hinge was Q2, 41-25: a lead of 5 became 21, and the lead reached 24. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/16 @ SAC 127-132 — HOU notes
HOU lost 127-132. HOU shot 53% (49 of 93) to SAC's 50%, 12 of 33 from three. Ja. Green led with 28 (10 of 20, 4 of 8 from three); Sengun added 21, Thompson 20. Q3 was theirs, 33-29, the deficit cut from 9 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 103-94 against them. Sengun's -21 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/18 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Sharpe at 20 and Henderson at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Grant (9 straight), Avdija (2 straight), Thybulle (40 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 27 free throws a game; Green at 32 and Sengun at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Smith Jr. (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-4 a night and Portland minus-4 and the line, where Houston takes 27 free throws a game to Portland's 18. Call it Houston 117, Portland 111.
1/20 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 43 from three, 27 free throws a game; Green at 31 and Sengun at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Smith Jr. (8 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Cunningham at 26 and Hardaway Jr. at 18 a game. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-7 a night and Detroit minus-1 and the arc, Houston at 43 percent from three to Detroit's 38. Call it Houston 118, Detroit 111.
1/22 vs CLE — 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 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Green at 30 and Sengun at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Smith Jr. (9 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Garland at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Mobley (2 straight), Okoro (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 41 percent from three to Cleveland's 34. Call it Houston 116, Cleveland 113, Cleveland keeping it close.
1/25 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Garland at 23 a game. Without Mobley (4 straight), LeVert (3 straight), Okoro (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Smith Jr. (10 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Cleveland 116, Houston 115, Houston keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CW C. Whitmore
DB D. Brooks
JG J. Green
JG Ja. Green
JG Je. Green
SA S. Adams
TE T. Eason
SACDC D. Carter
DD D. DeRozan
DF D. Fox
DS D. Sabonis
KE K. Ellis
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
TL T. Lyles
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
DeMar DeRozan scores 33 points, Malik Monk adds 26 in the Kings' 132-127 win over the Rockets
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- — DeMar DeRozan had 33 points, Malik Monk added 26 points and nine assists and the Sacramento Kings beat the Houston Rockets 132-127 on Thursday night.
Monk made the last four free throws for Kings. They improved to 21-20 with their eighth victory in nine games.
Domantas Sabonis had 20 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists for the Kings, and DeAaron Fox added 19 points.
Jaden Green led Houston with 28 points, and Alperen Şengun had 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Rockets had won seven straight on the road.
Key moment Behind by 16 points midway through the third quarter, the Rockets charged back to take a 91-90 lead.
Up next The Rockets are at Portland on Saturday night. The Kings host Washington on Sunday night.