Game ID: 22300140
Phoenix Suns @ Detroit Pistons
Sunday, November 5, 2023 at 3:00 PM ET
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DET 27 22 31 26 106PHX 28 30 34 28 120
DET vs PHX ScoutingDET vs PHX 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.
DET availability going into 10/28 · back-to-backOUT Wiseman missed 2 since 10/25, out tonight
OUT Rhoden missed 2 since 10/25, out tonight
OUT Umude missed 2 since 10/25, returns tonight: 1 min (5% of 13)
DET availability going into 10/30 · 1 day's restOUT Wiseman missed 3 since 10/25, out tonight
OUT Rhoden missed 3 since 10/25, returns tonight: 2 min (12% of 14)
BACK Umude back 10/28 after 2, 1 min since (5% of 13)
NEW Burks 21 to 27 min over the last 3
DET availability going into 11/01 · 1 day's restOUT Wiseman missed 4 since 10/25, returns tonight: 6 min (36% of 17)
BACK Rhoden back 10/30 after 3, 2 min since (12% of 14)
BACK Umude back 10/28 after 2, 1 min since (10% of 13)
DET availability going into 11/02 · back-to-backBACK Wiseman back 11/01 after 4, 6 min since (36% of 17)
BACK Rhoden back 10/30 after 3, 2 min since (12% of 14)
BACK Umude back 10/28 after 2, 5 min since (38% of 13)
DET availability going into 11/05 · 2 days' restOUT Burks missed 2 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Rhoden missed 2 since 11/01, returns tonight: 3 min (18% of 14)
BACK Wiseman back 11/01 after 4, 6 min since (36% of 17)
BACK Umude back 10/28 after 2, 4 min since (30% of 13)
DET availability going into 11/06 · back-to-backOUT Burks missed 3 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Wiseman missed 2 since 11/02, returns tonight: 11 min (62% of 17)
BACK Rhoden back 10/30 after 3, 2 min since (15% of 14)
BACK Umude back 10/28 after 2, 4 min since (31% of 13)
NEW Thompson 25 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Hayes 24 to 30 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 11/08 · 1 day's restOUT Ivey missed 2 since 11/05, out tonight
OUT Burks missed 4 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Wiseman back 11/01 after 4, 8 min since (49% of 17)
BACK Rhoden back 10/30 after 3, 3 min since (23% of 14)
NEW Thompson 25 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Hayes 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Sasser 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Harris 11 to 16 min over the last 4
DET availability going into 11/10 · 1 day's restOUT Ivey missed 3 since 11/05, out tonight
OUT Burks missed 5 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Harris missed 2 since 11/06, out tonight
BACK Wiseman back 11/01 after 4, 8 min since (49% of 17)
BACK Rhoden back 11/05 after 2, 7 min since (48% of 14)
NEW Thompson 25 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Hayes 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Sasser 19 to 28 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 11/12 · 1 day's restOUT Ivey missed 4 since 11/05, returns tonight: 11 min (40% of 29)
OUT Burks missed 6 since 11/01, returns tonight: 21 min (99% of 21)
OUT Harris missed 3 since 11/06, out tonight
BACK Wiseman back 11/06 after 2, 9 min since (50% of 17)
BACK Rhoden back 11/05 after 2, 7 min since (48% of 14)
NEW Thompson 25 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Hayes 24 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Sasser 19 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 10/28 · 1 day's restOUT Bates-Diop missed 2 since 10/24, returns tonight: 6 min (39% of 15)
OUT Metu missed 2 since 10/24, returns tonight: 3 min (21% of 12)
OUT Bol missed 2 since 10/24, returns tonight: 4 min (38% of 11)
PHX availability going into 10/31 · 2 days' restOUT Booker missed 2 since 10/26, out tonight
BACK Bates-Diop back 10/28 after 2, 6 min since (39% of 15)
BACK Metu back 10/28 after 2, 3 min since (21% of 12)
BACK Bol back 10/28 after 2, 4 min since (38% of 11)
NEW Okogie 16 to 29 min over the last 3
NEW Goodwin 14 to 23 min over the last 3
PHX availability going into 11/02 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 3 since 10/26, returns tonight: 35 min (97% of 36)
BACK Bates-Diop back 10/28 after 2, 6 min since (39% of 15)
BACK Metu back 10/28 after 2, 3 min since (21% of 12)
BACK Bol back 10/28 after 2, 4 min since (38% of 11)
NEW Okogie 16 to 29 min over the last 4
NEW Goodwin 14 to 21 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 11/04 · 1 day's restOUT Metu missed 2 since 10/31, returns tonight: 5 min (41% of 12)
OUT Bol missed 2 since 10/31, out tonight
BACK Booker back 11/02 after 3, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Bates-Diop back 10/28 after 2, 12 min since (78% of 15)
NEW Okogie 16 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Watanabe 13 to 20 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 11/05 · back-to-backOUT Bol missed 3 since 10/31, returns tonight: 3 min (24% of 11)
BACK Booker back 11/02 after 3, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Bates-Diop back 10/28 after 2, 16 min since (104% of 15)
BACK Metu back 10/28 after 2, 4 min since (31% of 12)
NEW Okogie 16 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Goodwin 14 to 19 min over the last 5
NEW Watanabe 13 to 21 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 11/08 · 2 days' restOUT Booker missed 2 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Bates-Diop back 10/28 after 2, 17 min since (110% of 15)
BACK Metu back 10/28 after 2, 3 min since (25% of 12)
BACK Bol back 10/28 after 2, 3 min since (31% of 11)
NEW Okogie 16 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Watanabe 13 to 22 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 11/10 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 3 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Metu back 11/04 after 2, 3 min since (27% of 12)
BACK Bol back 11/05 after 3, 3 min since (24% of 11)
NEW Okogie 16 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Bates-Diop 15 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Watanabe 13 to 21 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 11/12 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 4 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Metu missed 2 since 11/08, returns tonight: 1 min (6% of 12)
OUT Bol missed 2 since 11/08, out tonight
NEW Bates-Diop 15 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Watanabe 13 to 20 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 11/15 · 2 days' restOUT Booker missed 5 since 11/04, returns tonight: 26 min (71% of 36)
OUT Bol missed 3 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Metu back 11/04 after 2, 2 min since (20% of 12)
NEW Okogie 16 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Bates-Diop 15 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Watanabe 13 to 18 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Cunningham at 21 and Burks at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Burks (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Gordon at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-7 a night and Phoenix minus-2 and the arc, Detroit at 40 percent from three to Phoenix's 36. Call it Detroit 113, Phoenix 109, Phoenix keeping it close.
10/28 vs CHI 118-102 — DET notes
DET won 118-102. DET shot 52% (45 of 86) to CHI's 42%, 12 of 28 from three. DET turned it over 15 times to CHI's 8, and CHI turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 53-33 for them. Cunningham led with 25 (9 of 19, 1 of 4 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Duren added 23, Burks 18. The hinge was Q2, 28-18: a lead of 3 became 13, and the lead reached 19. Burks was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
10/30 @ OKC 112-124 — DET notes
DET lost 112-124. DET took 8 more shots (91 to 83), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to OKC's 53%, 15 of 28 from three. Ivey led with 20 (7 of 13, 4 of 6 from three); Cunningham added 17, Thompson 15. Q2 was theirs, 26-26, but the other 3 periods went 98-86 against them. Hayes's -15 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/01 vs POR 101-110 — DET notes
DET lost 101-110. DET took 9 more shots (90 to 81), but shot 44% to POR's 47%, 11 of 29 from three, and got to the line just 11 times against 31 fouls committed. Cunningham led with 30 (11 of 27, 5 of 9 from three); Thompson added 16, Stewart 12. Q1 was theirs, 32-26, but the other 3 periods went 84-69 against them. They led by as many as 18. Ivey's -14 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/02 @ NOP 116-125 — DET notes
DET lost 116-125. DET took 14 more shots (94 to 80), fed by 19 offensive rebounds, but shot 44% to NOP's 49%, 13 of 38 from three, and got to the line 26 times to NOP's 35. The glass went 48-36 for them. Cunningham led with 22 (8 of 22, 2 of 7 from three); Sasser added 19, Thompson 16. Q3 was theirs, 34-22, the deficit cut from 23 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 103-82 against them. Stewart's -18 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/05 vs PHX 106-120 — DET notes
DET lost 106-120. DET shot 49% (43 of 87) to PHX's 50%, 8 of 23 from three, and got to the line 14 times to PHX's 29. The glass went 33-43 against them. Cunningham led with 26 (12 of 24, 0 of 6 from three); Sasser added 22, Thompson 14. Q1 was theirs, 27-28, but the other 3 periods went 92-79 against them. Hayes's -22 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/06 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Cunningham at 24 and Thompson at 14 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Burks (3 straight), Wiseman (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Curry at 29 and Thompson at 16 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Golden State 113, Detroit 112, Detroit keeping it close.
11/08 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 28 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 27 and Lillard at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Cunningham at 23 and Thompson at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Ivey (2 straight), Burks (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the line, where Milwaukee takes 28 free throws a game to Detroit's 19 and the glass, where Detroit has been minus-2 a night and Milwaukee minus-8. Call it Milwaukee 118, Detroit 113.
11/10 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Cunningham at 26 and Sasser at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Ivey (3 straight), Burks (5 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 106, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 27 free throws a game; Embiid at 33 and Maxey at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Philadelphia allowing 106 a night to Detroit's 119 and the line, where Philadelphia takes 27 free throws a game to Detroit's 18. Call it Philadelphia 117, Detroit 110.
11/12 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; LaVine at 21 and DeRozan at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. 3 days' rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Cunningham at 25 and Sasser at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Ivey (4 straight), Burks (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-3 a night and Chicago minus-8 and the arc, Chicago at 40 percent from three to Detroit's 33. Call it Chicago 115, Detroit 111, Detroit keeping it close.
10/28 vs UTA 126-104 — PHX notes
PHX won 126-104. PHX shot 53% (45 of 85) to UTA's 44%, 10 of 37 from three, and went to the line 28 times to UTA's 14 — 26 points from the stripe to their 12. PHX turned it over 11 times to UTA's 18. Durant led with 26 (8 of 11, 1 of 4 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Gordon added 21, Allen 17. The hinge was Q3, 40-28: a lead of 16 became 28, and the lead reached 33. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
10/31 vs SAS 114-115 — PHX notes
PHX lost 114-115. PHX shot 51% (42 of 83) to SAS's 47%, 18 of 39 from three. PHX turned it over 19 times to SAS's 12, and SAS turned those into 10 steals. Durant led with 26 (12 of 19, 1 of 3 from three); Gordon added 20, Allen 19. Q1 was theirs, 27-18, but the other 3 periods went 97-87 against them. They led by as many as 20.
11/02 vs SAS 121-132 — PHX notes
PHX lost 121-132. PHX shot 54% (43 of 80) to SAS's 52%, 16 of 32 from three, and went to the line 26 times to SAS's 13 — 19 points from the stripe to their 12. PHX turned it over 14 times to SAS's 8. Booker led with 31 (10 of 19, 5 of 7 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Durant added 28, Allen 16. Q3 was theirs, 34-28, the deficit cut from 20 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 104-87 against them. Durant's -17 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/04 @ PHI 100-112 — PHX notes
PHX lost 100-112. PHX shot 36% (32 of 89) to PHI's 48%, 9 of 35 from three, and went to the line 33 times to PHI's 18 — 27 points from the stripe to their 15. PHX turned it over 10 times to PHI's 17. Durant led with 31 (9 of 20, 1 of 4 from three, 12 of 14 at the line); Gordon added 13, Nurkić 11. Q3 was theirs, 30-28, the deficit cut from 7 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 84-70 against them. Gordon's -19 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/05 @ DET 120-106 — PHX notes
PHX won 120-106. PHX shot 50% (43 of 86) to DET's 49%, 8 of 21 from three, and went to the line 29 times to DET's 14 — 26 points from the stripe to their 12. The glass went 43-33 for them. Durant led with 41 (14 of 27, 1 of 3 from three, 12 of 12 at the line); Gordon added 21, Allen 14. The hinge was Q2, 30-22: a lead of 1 became 9, and the lead reached 21. Gordon was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
11/08 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; LaVine at 21 and DeRozan at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Gordon at 16 a game. Without Booker (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the line, where Phoenix takes 26 free throws a game to Chicago's 20 and the glass, where Phoenix has been minus-1 a night and Chicago minus-6. Call it Chicago 113, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
11/10 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Allen at 17 a game. Without Booker (3 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; James at 25 and Davis at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Vincent (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-3 a night and the Lakers minus-8 and the arc, Phoenix at 40 percent from three to the Lakers' 30. Call it Phoenix 116, the Lakers 110.
11/12 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 28 free throws a game; Durant at 33 and Allen at 15 a game. Without Booker (4 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Holmgren at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-4 a night and OKC minus-8. Call it Phoenix 117, OKC 115, OKC keeping it close.
11/15 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 42 percent and 35 from three, 29 free throws a game; Durant at 33 and Beal at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Booker (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 106, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Towns at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-9 a night and Minnesota plus-3 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 106 a night to Phoenix's 113. Call it Minnesota 111, Phoenix 110, Phoenix keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DETAT A. Thompson
CC C. Cunningham
IS I. Stewart
JD J. Duren
JH J. Harris
KH K. Hayes
MB M. Bagley III
MS M. Sasser
SU S. Umude
PHXBB B. Bol
DE D. Eubanks
EG E. Gordon
GA G. Allen
JG J. Goodwin
JN J. Nurkić
JO J. Okogie
KB K. Bates-Diop
KD K. Durant
NU Nurkic
SL S. Lee
UA U. Azubuike
YW Y. Watanabe
DET/PHX 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
Kevin Durant scores season-high 41 points, Suns snap 3-game skid with 120-106 win over Pistons
DETROIT -- — Kevin Durant sat and smiled, trying to speak loudly enough to be heard in a jubilant locker room.
“We're excited because we finally got a win," Durant said.
Durant had a season-high 41 points, and the short-handed Phoenix Suns snapped a three-game losing streak with a 120-106 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
“It’s not fun losing one in a row, definitely not three in a row,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said.
Phoenix was without its banged-up backcourt of Devin Booker (calf) and Bradley Beal (back) and a trio of guards took advantage of more playing time and shots.
Eric Gordon scored 21 points, Grayson Allen had 14 and Josh Okogie added 10.
“We're doing it by committee,” Durant said.
Cade Cunningham had 26 points, six assists and six turnovers for the Pistons, who have lost four in a row.
Detroit coach Monty Williams faced his former team for the first time in the regular season after matching up in the preseason.
“These are really cool games to be a part of,” Williams said before the game.
After the game, though, Williams was not happy.
“They were tougher than us,” he said. “They played harder than we did in stretches, pretty much most of the game.”
Durant, who made 14 of 27 shots, scored 13 points in the first quarter to give the Suns a one-point lead. The superstar was determined to help them bounce back after losing Saturday at Philadelphia and in consecutive home games to San Antonio.
“He, like the rest of us, is tired of losing,” Vogel said. “He really imposed his will.”
Durant said he wasn't alone.
“We all had that mentality,” he said.
Gordon scored 11 points in the second quarter, extending the lead to 58-49 at halftime.
Durant added 18 points in the third to give Phoenix a 12-point cushion in the fourth that allowed it to cruise to a comfortable and much-needed victory. He was 12 of 12 at the free throw line.
“We had too many situations where we missed assignments,” Williams said. “When you don’t know an assignment on Kevin Durant, that’s a problem.”
Detroit rookie reserve Marcus Sasser scored a season-high 22 points.
“He’s a handful,” Vogel said. “We know he's capable. We did not get to his catch and shoot and he made us pay. He was also able to generate offense through the pick and roll game. He’s a heck of a player.”
Pistons rookie Ausar Thompson had 14 points while Killian Hayes added 13 points.
Detroit’s Jalen Duren , who had 12 points and 11 rebounds, was ejected midway through the fourth quarter after being called for a second flagrant foul.
Suns owner Mat Ishbia, a season-ticket holder at Little Caesars Arena, watched the franchise he agreed to buy nearly a year ago play against his hometown team. Ishbia sat in his front-row seats, near the Suns bench, with his family. He fired Williams after last season.
UP NEXT
Suns: Close three-game trip at Chicago on Wednesday night.