Game ID: 22500274
Sacramento Kings @ Denver Nuggets
Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 10:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 35 30 27 31 123SAC 30 31 30 37 128
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 11/15 · 2 days' restBACK Jones back 11/07 after 3, 13 min since (59% of 22)
BACK Pickett back 11/07 after 3, 9 min since (55% of 16)
BACK Nnaji back 11/07 after 3, 4 min since (30% of 12)
DEN availability going into 11/17 · 1 day's restBACK Jones back 11/07 after 3, 14 min since (63% of 22)
BACK Pickett back 11/07 after 3, 9 min since (55% of 16)
BACK Nnaji back 11/07 after 3, 4 min since (30% of 12)
DEN availability going into 11/19 · 1 day's restOUT Braun missed 2 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 11/15, returns tonight: 27 min (224% of 12)
DEN availability going into 11/21 · 1 day's restOUT Braun missed 3 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Strawther missed 2 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Nnaji back 11/19 after 2, 27 min since (224% of 12)
DEN availability going into 11/22 · back-to-backOUT Braun missed 4 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 2 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Strawther missed 3 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Nnaji back 11/19 after 2, 27 min since (224% of 12)
DEN availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Braun missed 5 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 3 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Strawther missed 4 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 11/21, returns tonight: 15 min (123% of 12)
DEN availability going into 11/28 · 3 days' restOUT Braun missed 6 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 2 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 4 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Strawther missed 5 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Nnaji back 11/19 after 2, 21 min since (173% of 12)
DEN availability going into 11/29 · back-to-backOUT Braun missed 7 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 3 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 5 since 11/19, returns tonight: 2 min (10% of 16)
OUT Strawther missed 6 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Nnaji back 11/19 after 2, 18 min since (154% of 12)
DEN availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Braun missed 8 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 4 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Strawther missed 7 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 11/29 after 5, 2 min since (10% of 16)
BACK Nnaji back 11/24 after 2, 12 min since (102% of 12)
NEW Johnson 31 to 36 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 11/14 · 1 day's restOUT Cardwell missed 6 since 11/03, out tonight
OUT Stevens missed 12 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Sabonis back 11/09 after 2, 27 min since (92% of 30)
BACK Plowden back 11/12 after 11, 14 min since (53% of 26)
BACK Monk back 11/05 after 2, 24 min since (111% of 22)
BACK McDermott back 11/12 after 11, 8 min since (52% of 15)
NEW Eubanks 13 to 20 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 11/16 · 1 day's restOUT Cardwell missed 7 since 11/03, out tonight
OUT Stevens missed 13 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Sabonis back 11/09 after 2, 30 min since (102% of 30)
BACK Plowden back 11/12 after 11, 14 min since (53% of 26)
BACK McDermott back 11/12 after 11, 8 min since (52% of 15)
SAC availability going into 11/19 · 2 days' restOUT Raynaud missed 2 since 11/14, returns tonight: 19 min (70% of 26)
OUT Plowden missed 2 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT Cardwell missed 8 since 11/03, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 2 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT McDermott missed 2 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT Stevens missed 14 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Sabonis back 11/09 after 2, 31 min since (106% of 30)
SAC availability going into 11/20 · back-to-backOUT Plowden missed 3 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT Cardwell missed 9 since 11/03, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 3 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT McDermott missed 3 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT Stevens missed 15 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Raynaud back 11/19 after 2, 19 min since (70% of 26)
SAC availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Sabonis missed 2 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Plowden missed 4 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT Cardwell missed 10 since 11/03, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 4 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT McDermott missed 4 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT Stevens missed 16 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Raynaud back 11/19 after 2, 20 min since (75% of 26)
SAC availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Sabonis missed 3 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Plowden missed 5 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT Cardwell missed 11 since 11/03, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 5 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT McDermott missed 5 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT Stevens missed 17 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Raynaud back 11/19 after 2, 16 min since (60% of 26)
SAC availability going into 11/26 · 1 day's restOUT Sabonis missed 4 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Plowden missed 6 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT Cardwell missed 12 since 11/03, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 6 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT McDermott missed 6 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT Stevens missed 18 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Raynaud back 11/19 after 2, 15 min since (58% of 26)
NEW Eubanks 13 to 19 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 11/28 · 1 day's restOUT Sabonis missed 5 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Plowden missed 7 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT Cardwell missed 13 since 11/03, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 7 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT McDermott missed 7 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT Stevens missed 19 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Raynaud back 11/19 after 2, 14 min since (53% of 26)
NEW Eubanks 13 to 20 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 11/30 · 1 day's restOUT Sabonis missed 6 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Plowden missed 8 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT Schröder missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Cardwell missed 14 since 11/03, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 8 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT McDermott missed 8 since 11/14, out tonight
OUT Stevens missed 20 since 10/22, 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 110 a night and allowing 107, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 30 free throws a game; Jokić at 36 and Murray at 23 a game. Without Braun (4 straight), Pickett (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 126, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sabonis at 21 and LaVine at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Sabonis (2 straight), Plowden (4 straight), Cardwell (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 107 a night to Sacramento's 126 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-1 a night and Sacramento minus-9. Call it Denver 120, Sacramento 107, Denver by 13.
11/15 @ MIN 123-112 — DEN notes
DEN lost 55-60. DEN shot 47% (39 of 83) to MIN's 47%, 14 of 29 from three, and went to the line 38 times to MIN's 23 — 31 points from the stripe to their 20. Jokić led with 27 (8 of 15, 3 of 6 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Murray added 23, Gordon 23. Q3 was theirs, 0-0, but the other 3 periods went 60-55 against them. They led by as many as 14.
11/17 vs CHI 127-130 — DEN notes
DEN lost 127-130. DEN shot 47% (46 of 97) to CHI's 47%, 14 of 36 from three, and went to the line 25 times to CHI's 19 — 21 points from the stripe to their 15. Jokić led with 36 (13 of 27, 1 of 7 from three, 9 of 12 at the line); Murray added 34, Gordon 24. Q4 was theirs, 34-27, the deficit cut from 10 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 103-93 against them. Hardaway Jr.'s -21 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/19 @ NOP 125-118 — DEN notes
DEN won 125-118. DEN shot 55% (46 of 83) to NOP's 45%, 11 of 31 from three. DEN turned it over 20 times to NOP's 12, and NOP turned those into 12 steals. Watson led with 32 (13 of 19, 5 of 9 from three); Jokić added 28, Murray 16. The hinge was Q3, 35-25: a lead of 4 became 14, and the lead reached 19. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
11/21 @ HOU 112-109 — DEN notes
DEN won 112-109. DEN shot 53% (40 of 76) to HOU's 44%, 11 of 29 from three, and went to the line 27 times to HOU's 20 — 21 points from the stripe to their 13. Jokić led with 34 (11 of 20, 4 of 8 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Murray added 26, Hardaway Jr. 12. The hinge was Q1, 25-12: from level to 13 ahead. DEN trailed 46-49 at the half and won the second half 66-60. Watson was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
11/22 vs SAC 123-128 — DEN notes
DEN lost 123-128. DEN shot 49% (45 of 92) to SAC's 53%, 14 of 37 from three. DEN turned it over 13 times to SAC's 6, and SAC turned those into 8 steals. Jokić led with 44 (16 of 28, 3 of 6 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Murray added 23, Johnson 20. Q1 was theirs, 35-30, but the other 3 periods went 98-88 against them. They led by as many as 13. Jones's -18 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/24 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 108, shooting 40 percent and 28 from three, 25 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 21 and Aldama at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Jackson Jr. (2 straight), Morant (3 straight), Small (7 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 28 free throws a game; Jokić at 34 and Murray at 24 a game. Without Braun (5 straight), Pickett (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 40 percent from three to Memphis's 28 and the glass, where Memphis has been plus-8 a night and Denver plus-0. Call it Denver 112, Memphis 111, Memphis keeping it close.
11/28 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 120, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 32 and Murray at 26 a game. Without Braun (6 straight), Gordon (2 straight), Pickett (4 straight). 3 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Fox at 29 and Barnes at 17 a game. Without Castle (4 straight), Wembanyama (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 110 a night to Denver's 120 and the arc, Denver at 41 percent from three to San Antonio's 36. Call it Denver 117, San Antonio 115, San Antonio keeping it close.
11/29 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brooks at 22 and Booker at 20 a game. Without Allen (7 straight), Green (10 straight), Dunn (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 122, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Murray at 26 a game. Without Braun (7 straight), Gordon (3 straight), Pickett (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 110 a night to Denver's 122 and the arc, Denver at 41 percent from three to Phoenix's 36. Call it Phoenix 117, Denver 116, Denver keeping it close.
12/01 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 121, shooting 52 percent and 46 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Murray at 28 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Braun (8 straight), Gordon (4 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Washington at 22 and Flagg at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Russell (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 46 percent from three to Dallas's 34 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-4 a night and Dallas minus-4. Call it Denver 120, Dallas 112.
11/14 @ MIN 110-124 — SAC notes
SAC lost 110-124. SAC shot 44% (41 of 93) to MIN's 49%, 12 of 33 from three, and got to the line 27 times to MIN's 40. Sabonis led with 34 (14 of 24, 5 of 8 at the line); LaVine added 25, Schröder 14. Q2 was theirs, 31-26, the deficit cut from 5 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 98-79 against them. LaVine's -18 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/16 @ SAS 110-123 — SAC notes
SAC lost 110-123. SAC shot 47% (41 of 87) to SAS's 54%, 12 of 33 from three. DeRozan led with 27 (12 of 15); Schröder added 22, Sabonis 17. Q2 was theirs, 35-31, the deficit cut from 12 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 92-75 against them. DeRozan's -23 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/19 @ OKC 99-113 — SAC notes
SAC lost 99-113. SAC shot 44% (38 of 86) to OKC's 47%, 8 of 28 from three. Schröder led with 21 (9 of 21, 2 of 9 from three); DeRozan added 17, Monk 16. Q4 was theirs, 30-30, but the other 3 periods went 83-69 against them. LaVine's -16 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/20 @ MEM 96-137 — SAC notes
SAC lost 96-137. SAC shot 46% (37 of 80) to MEM's 51%, 11 of 33 from three, and got to the line 15 times to MEM's 26. SAC turned it over 16 times to MEM's 7, and MEM turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 32-49 against them. LaVine led with 26 (10 of 17, 4 of 8 from three); Raynaud added 12, Murray 11. Q4 was theirs, 20-24, but the other 3 periods went 113-76 against them. Westbrook's -28 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/22 @ DEN 128-123 — SAC notes
SAC won 128-123. SAC shot 53% (48 of 91) to DEN's 49%, 10 of 30 from three. SAC turned it over 6 times to DEN's 13. Westbrook led with 21 (9 of 16, 2 of 6 from three); Schröder added 21, K. Murray 19. The hinge was Q4, 37-31: SAC came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 5. SAC trailed 61-65 at the half and won the second half 67-58. Schröder was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
11/24 vs MIN — 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 109 a night and allowing 124, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; LaVine at 16 and Schröder at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Sabonis (3 straight), Plowden (5 straight), Cardwell (11 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 97, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 31 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and Randle at 23 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 97 a night to Sacramento's 124 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-3 a night and Sacramento minus-7. Call it Minnesota 117, Sacramento 108.
11/26 vs PHX — 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 110 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; DeRozan at 20 and Murray at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Sabonis (4 straight), Plowden (6 straight), Cardwell (12 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brooks at 24 and Booker at 21 a game. Without Allen (5 straight), Green (8 straight), Dunn (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-3 a night and Sacramento minus-7 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 113 a night to Sacramento's 122. Call it Phoenix 118, Sacramento 113.
11/28 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 135, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; George at 28 and Markkanen at 27 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Kessler (12 straight), Harkless (3 straight), Tshiebwe (17 straight). 3 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Murray at 19 and DeRozan at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Sabonis (5 straight), Plowden (7 straight), Cardwell (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the defense, Sacramento allowing 119 a night to Utah's 135 and the glass, where Utah has been minus-1 a night and Sacramento minus-6. Call it Utah 122, Sacramento 119, Sacramento keeping it close.
11/30 vs MEM — 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 112 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Murray at 20 and LaVine at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Sabonis (6 straight), Plowden (8 straight), Schröder (2 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 22 and Aldama at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Morant (6 straight), Mashack (4 straight), Jackson (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-11 a night and Sacramento minus-7 and the defense, Memphis allowing 110 a night to Sacramento's 122. Call it Memphis 119, Sacramento 114.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SACDD D. DeRozan
DE D. Eubanks
DS D. Schröder
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
MR M. Raynaud
NC N. Clifford
PA P. Achiuwa
RW R. Westbrook
SC Schroder
ZL Z. LaVine
DENBB B. Brown
CJ C. Johnson
HT H. Tyson
JM J. Murray
JV J. Valančiūnas
JO Jokic
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
SJ S. Jones
TH T. Hardaway Jr.
VA Valanciunas
SAC/DEN 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 Jokic's 44 points, beat Nuggets 128-123 to end 8-game slide
DENVER -- — Russell Westbrook scored 15 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter against his former team, and the Sacramento Kings withstood 44 points from Nikola Jokic to beat the Denver Nuggets 128-123 on Saturday night, ending an eight-game slide.
Dennis Schroder also had 21 points for Sacramento, which lost every game during the streak by double digits — the last by 41 points at Memphis on Thursday night.
The Kings appeared on their way to a ninth straight defeat after falling behind by 13 in the third quarter, but they rallied to take the last of three games against Denver this season.
Keegan Murray had 19 points in his second game back from offseason surgery on his left thumb. DeMar DeRozan added 17, including a three-point play with 12 seconds left that sealed it.
It was the second consecutive home game in which the Nuggets fell to a team on an extended losing streak. Chicago handed them their first home loss Monday night to stop a five-game skid.
Jokic had 19 points in the fourth quarter. He finished with 13 rebounds and seven assists.
Jamal Murray scored 23 points and Cam Johnson had 20 for the Nuggets, who were without Aaron Gordon . The forward injured his right hamstring early in Friday night's win at Houston.
Spencer Jones made his first career start in place of Gordon.
Murray’s free throw midway through the third gave Denver a 79-66 lead, but the Kings rallied to take a lead late in the period, then scored 10 straight points early in the fourth to go up 104-98.
They extended it to 114-105 on Westbrook’s layup before Denver rallied to get within 123-120 on Jokic's 3-pointer. DeRozan iced it with a three-point play and hit two more free throws in the final seconds.
Up next Kings: Host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night.
Nuggets: At the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.