“I called this crew average and they were quieter than church bingo, 35 fouls all night. The Pelicans took it 132-120 at home, and my read missed. I'm eating that one myself. Don't tell the commissioner.”
MONTY, THE MORNING AFTER
HOW THE WHISTLE WENT
Thu, Oct 29, 2026 · Final
SAC @ NOP Sacramento at New Orleans
THE CREWJosh Tivenchief·Gediminas Petraitis·Chelisa Painter
SAC 120NOP 132
- Total moved down 3
WHISTLE VOLUME
30.6
fouls per 100 possessions · −13.8 vs average
quieter than 84% of games since 2015
OUR CREW READ
Missed
Read as average before tip-off; it came in −13.8 fouls per 100 vs average.
We print the misses as loud as the hits.
Fouls by quarter
SAC NOP
Expected vs actual
| Fouls / 100 | Free throws / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| SAC | 20.4 → 19.2 | 23.1 → 17.4 |
| NOP | 19.9 → 11.4 | 25.0 → 28.0 |
Expected before tip-off → what happened. Free throws: SAC 20, NOP 32.
Foul-trouble watch: Domantas Sabonis (SAC)
4 fouls · 9 pts · 40 min
Key whistles
- Q1 3:36 Herbert Jones (NOP), shooting foul: 2nd foul in Q1
- Q3 10:05 Darius Acuff Jr. (SAC), shooting foul: 4th foul in Q3
- Q3 2:28 Domantas Sabonis (SAC), offensive foul: 4th foul in Q3
Picked by rule (foul trouble, close finish), not graded right or wrong.
BEFORE TIP-OFF
CREW READ
PENDING
The league posts referee assignments about 9 a.m. ET on game day. The crew read lands here as soon as it does.
The free-throw battle
how busy each end should be
NOP should get to the line more: about 2.0 extra free throws.
When SAC have the ballLeans quiet
quietleague middlebusy
SAC draw fouls: 4th fewest; get to the line: 8th fewest. NOP commit fouls: mid-pack; give up free throws: mid-pack. Expected free throws for SAC: 26.5.
When NOP have the ballLeans busy
quietleague middlebusy
NOP draw fouls: mid-pack; get to the line: 6th most. SAC commit fouls: mid-pack; give up free throws: mid-pack. Expected free throws for NOP: 28.5.
League ranks this season, out of 30.
Where they stand
SAC NOP
Overall
When they defend
When they attack
League rank out of 30 this season, 1st = best for the team: most points scored, fewest allowed, fewest fouls and free throws given up, most fouls drawn and trips to the line. The right-hand number is how many places the leader is ahead.
What to expect
vs league avg
SAC
26.5
free throws
NOP
28.5
free throws
Who’s out
SAC
- Daeqwon Plowden OUT
NOP
- Dejounte Murray OUT
The lines
DraftKings · open → close
| Total | 237.5 → 234.5▼ 3 |
|---|---|
| Spread | NOP -5.5 → -6.5 |
| Moneyline | SAC +160 → +195 · NOP -192 → -238 |
For information only. Prices move; check your book. 19+ (21+ in most of the US).
The crew read in detail: fouls, free throws and points vs the line
Fouls−0.2 per 100 poss not clear
Personal fouls by both teams per 100 possessions, against the league average, after allowing for the two teams.
Not clearly different from average: 80% likely between −1.0 and +0.6 per 100 poss.
n = 4 games (fewest on the crew). Each dot is one in twenty likely outcomes.
Free throws+0.1 per 100 poss not clear
Free-throw attempts by both teams per 100 possessions, against the league average.
Not clearly different from average: 80% likely between −0.9 and +1.0 per 100 poss.
n = 4 games (fewest on the crew). Each dot is one in twenty likely outcomes.
Points vs the line−0.2 points not clear
Final points minus the closing total in this crew's games. Near zero means the market already prices the crew.
Not clearly different from average: 80% likely between −1.0 and +0.7 points.
n = 4 games (fewest on the crew). Each dot is one in twenty likely outcomes.
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Counts and rates, not verdicts. How we grade