Game ID: 22300661
Phoenix Suns @ Miami Heat
Monday, January 29, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MIA 25 24 25 31 105PHX 33 29 38 18 118
MIA vs PHX ScoutingMIA 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.
MIA availability going into 1/21 · 1 day's restOUT Jaquez Jr. missed 3 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 7 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Butler III back 1/15 after 7, 36 min since (105% of 34)
BACK Lowry back 1/14 after 2, 26 min since (92% of 28)
BACK Martin back 1/12 after 7, 27 min since (97% of 28)
BACK Love back 1/19 after 3, 12 min since (75% of 16)
BACK Bryant back 1/15 after 4, 5 min since (40% of 12)
MIA availability going into 1/24 · 2 days' restOUT Jaquez Jr. missed 4 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 2 since 1/19, returns tonight: 7 min (59% of 12)
OUT Cain missed 8 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Butler III back 1/15 after 7, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Lowry back 1/14 after 2, 26 min since (92% of 28)
BACK Love back 1/19 after 3, 13 min since (82% of 16)
MIA availability going into 1/25 · back-to-backOUT Jaquez Jr. missed 5 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 9 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Butler III back 1/15 after 7, 34 min since (101% of 34)
BACK Love back 1/19 after 3, 10 min since (65% of 16)
BACK Bryant back 1/15 after 4, 5 min since (47% of 12)
MIA availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Jaquez Jr. missed 6 since 1/15, returns tonight: 24 min (84% of 28)
OUT Cain missed 10 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Love back 1/19 after 3, 10 min since (65% of 16)
BACK Bryant back 1/24 after 2, 10 min since (84% of 12)
MIA availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Cain missed 11 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 1/27 after 6, 24 min since (84% of 28)
BACK Love back 1/19 after 3, 11 min since (71% of 16)
BACK Bryant back 1/24 after 2, 10 min since (84% of 12)
MIA availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Bryant missed 2 since 1/27, returns tonight: 3 min (23% of 12)
OUT Cain missed 12 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 1/27 after 6, 24 min since (86% of 28)
MIA availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Jović missed 2 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 13 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 1/27 after 6, 25 min since (87% of 28)
BACK Bryant back 1/24 after 2, 7 min since (64% of 12)
MIA availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 2 since 1/31, out tonight
OUT Jović missed 3 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 14 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 1/27 after 6, 25 min since (88% of 28)
BACK Bryant back 1/31 after 2, 3 min since (23% of 12)
MIA availability going into 2/06 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 3 since 1/31, returns tonight: 22 min (80% of 27)
OUT Jović missed 4 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 2 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 15 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 1/27 after 6, 25 min since (88% of 28)
PHX availability going into 1/22 · back-to-backOUT Watanabe missed 4 since 1/14, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 4 since 1/14, out tonight
BACK Goodwin back 1/19 after 2, 4 min since (29% of 14)
PHX availability going into 1/24 · 1 day's restOUT Goodwin missed 2 since 1/21, returns tonight: 4 min (29% of 14)
OUT Watanabe missed 5 since 1/14, returns tonight: 7 min (55% of 13)
OUT Bol missed 5 since 1/14, out tonight
PHX availability going into 1/26 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 2 since 1/22, returns tonight: 30 min (109% of 28)
OUT Bol missed 6 since 1/14, out tonight
BACK Goodwin back 1/19 after 2, 4 min since (29% of 14)
BACK Watanabe back 1/24 after 5, 7 min since (55% of 13)
PHX availability going into 1/28 · 1 day's restOUT Bol missed 7 since 1/14, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/26 after 2, 30 min since (109% of 28)
BACK Goodwin back 1/19 after 2, 4 min since (29% of 14)
BACK Watanabe back 1/24 after 5, 7 min since (55% of 13)
PHX availability going into 1/29 · back-to-backOUT Watanabe missed 2 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 8 since 1/14, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/26 after 2, 26 min since (94% of 28)
BACK Goodwin back 1/24 after 2, 3 min since (22% of 14)
PHX availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Watanabe missed 3 since 1/26, returns tonight: 1 min (10% of 13)
OUT Bol missed 9 since 1/14, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/26 after 2, 29 min since (102% of 28)
BACK Goodwin back 1/24 after 2, 3 min since (22% of 14)
PHX availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Bol missed 10 since 1/14, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/26 after 2, 29 min since (105% of 28)
BACK Goodwin back 1/24 after 2, 2 min since (18% of 14)
BACK Watanabe back 1/24 after 5, 4 min since (33% of 13)
PHX availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Bol missed 11 since 1/14, returns tonight: 16 min (145% of 11)
BACK Gordon back 1/26 after 2, 29 min since (104% of 28)
BACK Watanabe back 1/31 after 3, 1 min since (10% of 13)
PHX availability going into 2/06 · 1 day's restBACK Watanabe back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (35% of 13)
BACK Bol back 2/04 after 11, 16 min since (145% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Butler III at 20 and Herro at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 116, shooting 57 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Booker at 39 and Durant at 26 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 16 times a game to Miami's 12 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-0 a night and Miami minus-5. Call it Phoenix 114, Miami 113, Miami keeping it close.
1/21 @ ORL 87-105 — MIA notes
MIA lost 87-105. MIA shot 38% (30 of 80) to ORL's 47%, 12 of 37 from three, and got to the line 18 times to ORL's 28. Adebayo led with 22 (8 of 17, 6 of 6 at the line); Butler III added 15, Herro 12. Q2 was theirs, 27-26, the deficit cut from 3 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 79-60 against them. Lowry's -17 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/24 vs MEM 96-105 — MIA notes
MIA lost 96-105. MIA shot 40% (33 of 82) to MEM's 45%, 11 of 34 from three, and went to the line 25 times to MEM's 19 — 19 points from the stripe to their 16. Herro led with 18 (8 of 15, 2 of 6 from three); Adebayo added 15, Butler III 15. Q4 was theirs, 28-23, the deficit cut from 14 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 82-68 against them. Rozier's -13 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/25 vs BOS 110-143 — MIA notes
MIA lost 110-143. MIA took 14 more shots (94 to 80), fed by 11 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to BOS's 64%, 16 of 42 from three, and got to the line 13 times to BOS's 20. MIA turned it over 4 times to BOS's 11. The glass went 31-47 against them. Herro led with 19 (7 of 14, 5 of 10 from three); Adebayo added 19, Butler III 17. Q2 was theirs, 35-35, but the other 3 periods went 108-75 against them. Adebayo's -28 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/27 @ NYK 109-125 — MIA notes
MIA lost 109-125. MIA shot 47% (41 of 88) to NYK's 52%, 14 of 37 from three, and got to the line 16 times to NYK's 26. Butler III led with 28 (11 of 20, 1 of 3 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Robinson added 19, Herro 18. Q3 was theirs, 35-28, the deficit cut from 10 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 97-74 against them. They led by as many as 10. Adebayo's -20 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/29 vs PHX 105-118 — MIA notes
MIA lost 105-118. MIA shot 39% (33 of 84) to PHX's 49%, 14 of 36 from three, and went to the line 25 times to PHX's 17 — 25 points from the stripe to their 12. Butler III led with 26 (7 of 12, 10 of 10 at the line); Rozier added 21, Herro 17. Q4 was theirs, 31-18, the deficit cut from 26 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 100-74 against them. Rozier's -21 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/31 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 119, shooting 42 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Butler III at 20 and Herro at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Fox at 24 and Barnes at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Ellis (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-3 a night and Miami minus-7. Call it Sacramento 116, Miami 112, Miami keeping it close.
2/02 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Kuzma at 24 and Avdija at 14 a game. One day's rest. Miami comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Butler III at 23 and Herro at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Jović (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Washington giving it away 14 times a game to Miami's 10 and the arc, Miami at 38 percent from three to Washington's 32. Call it Washington 116, Miami 113, Miami keeping it close.
2/04 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Butler III at 25 and Herro at 17 a game. Without Robinson (2 straight), Jović (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and George at 17 a game. Without Zubac (9 straight), Tucker (31 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 111 a night to Miami's 119. Call it the Clippers 117, Miami 112.
2/06 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 111, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Butler III at 26 and Herro at 16 a game. Without Robinson (3 straight), Jović (4 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Banchero at 26 and F. Wagner at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Bitadze (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the arc, Orlando at 39 percent from three to Miami's 35. Call it Miami 111, Orlando 110, Orlando keeping it close.
1/22 vs CHI 115-113 — PHX notes
PHX won 115-113. PHX shot 52% (44 of 85) to CHI's 48%, 14 of 34 from three. Durant led with 43 (16 of 32, 6 of 15 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Beal added 18, Booker 16. The hinge was Q3, 34-24: the deficit went from 17 to 7. PHX trailed 49-66 at the half and won the second half 66-47. Eubanks was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
1/24 @ DAL 132-109 — PHX notes
PHX won 132-109. PHX shot 60% (51 of 85) to DAL's 46%, 14 of 34 from three. The glass went 49-33 for them. Booker led with 46 (17 of 23, 6 of 10 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Beal added 20, Allen 15. The hinge was Q3, 43-20: PHX came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 22, and the lead reached 29. PHX trailed 57-58 at the half and won the second half 75-51. Booker was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
1/26 @ IND 131-133 — PHX notes
PHX lost 131-133. PHX shot 57% (51 of 89) to IND's 53%, 13 of 30 from three. PHX turned it over 20 times to IND's 12, and IND turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 38-48 against them. Booker led with 62 (22 of 37, 6 of 12 from three, 12 of 13 at the line); Durant added 20, Gordon 14. Q1 was theirs, 40-31, but the other 3 periods went 102-91 against them. They led by as many as 17. Durant's -9 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/28 @ ORL 98-113 — PHX notes
PHX lost 98-113. PHX shot 56% (41 of 73) to ORL's 45%, 4 of 14 from three. PHX turned it over 22 times to ORL's 7, and ORL turned those into 12 steals. Booker led with 44 (17 of 26, 9 of 11 at the line); Durant added 15. Q1 was theirs, 37-26, but the other 3 periods went 87-61 against them. They led by as many as 13. Durant's -25 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/29 @ MIA 118-105 — PHX notes
PHX won 118-105. PHX shot 49% (46 of 94) to MIA's 39%, 14 of 40 from three, and got to the line 17 times to MIA's 25. Gordon led with 23 (8 of 17, 5 of 12 from three); Booker added 22, Durant 20. The hinge was Q3, 38-25: a lead of 13 became 26. Eubanks was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
1/31 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Bridges at 27 and Thomas at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Wilson (11 straight), Sharpe (9 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 115, shooting 55 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Booker at 38 and Durant at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-0 a night and Brooklyn minus-5. Call it Brooklyn 115, Phoenix 114, Phoenix keeping it close.
2/02 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 130, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Young at 29 and Murray at 26 a game. Without Krejčí (19 straight), Fernando (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 116, shooting 57 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Booker at 39 and Durant at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 116 a night to Atlanta's 130 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 16 times a game to Atlanta's 11. Call it Phoenix 122, Atlanta 120, Atlanta keeping it close.
2/04 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 29 from three, 20 free throws a game; Kuzma at 23 and Poole at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 120, shooting 55 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Booker at 35 and Durant at 25 a game. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 40 percent from three to Washington's 29 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-0 a night and Washington minus-5. Call it Phoenix 118, Washington 116, Washington keeping it close.
2/06 vs MIL — 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 122 a night and allowing 116, shooting 56 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Booker at 25 and Durant at 24 a game. One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 33 and Lillard at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Lopez (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-4 a night and Milwaukee minus-6 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 15 times a game to Milwaukee's 11. Call it Phoenix 121, Milwaukee 117, Milwaukee keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Beal
DB D. Booker
DE D. Eubanks
EG E. Gordon
GA G. Allen
JN J. Nurkić
JO J. Okogie
KB K. Bates-Diop
KD K. Durant
NU Nurkic
MIABA B. Adebayo
BU Butler
CM C. Martin
DR D. Robinson
HH H. Highsmith
JB J. Butler III
JJ J. Jaquez Jr.
JR J. Richardson
KL K. Love
TH T. Herro
TR T. Rozier
PHX/MIA 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
Gordon scores 23, Booker scores 22 and Suns add to Miami's woes with 118-105 win
MIAMI -- — The Phoenix Suns are figuring things out. The Miami Heat had better do the same soon.
Eric Gordon scored 23 points off the bench, Devin Booker scored 22 and the Suns added to Miami's woes with a 118-105 win Monday night, handing the Heat their seventh consecutive loss.
Kevin Durant scored 20 and Bradley Beal had 19 for the Suns, who are 8-2 in their last 10 games and swept the Heat for just the second time in the last 17 seasons. The other was 2020-21, when Phoenix made the NBA Finals.
“Trying to get wins, that’s the name of the game,” Booker said after the Suns got a split of their Florida back-to-back following a Sunday night loss in Orlando. “We have some things to figure out defensively and we’ll do that. This was a good win today, on a back-to-back, against a really good team.”
Booker, Durant and Beal each had seven assists for Phoenix, which led by as many as 28 and took a 100-74 lead into the final quarter. The Suns — the NBA's worst team in terms of fourth-quarter point differential — saw the lead get cut to 115-105 with 1:33 left, but Miami didn't score again.
Jimmy Butler scored a game-high 26 points for Miami, which was 24-16 and fifth in the Eastern Conference just two weeks ago. The Heat are now 24-23 and mired in the play-in tournament range, three games behind Indiana in the loss column for the sixth and final guaranteed playoff berth.
Terry Rozier scored 21 and Tyler Herro had 17 for Miami.
“I just want to see the effort, the toughness, the physicality, the force, the multiple efforts to get through this to see what’s on the other side,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We know that there’s something that potentially can be great on the other side. But you got to go through it. You've got to go through the fires together and these uncomfortable times together.”
Beal played with a mask to protect his broken nose. The Suns lost starter Grayson Allen in the first half to a sprained right ankle. Suns coach Frank Vogel said X-rays were negative.
Phoenix got 48 bench points.
“Proud of those guys,” Vogel said. “That's what it should look like on the second night of a back-to-back.”
It's the first seven-game losing streak for Miami since a seven-game slide late in the 2007-08 season, the season before Spoelstra took over for Pat Riley. That '07-08 team — which finished 15-67 and, to put it charitably, wasn't exactly trying to win a lot of games — had four such streaks of seven or more losses that season.
Before that, the last time a Miami team lost seven straight was the start of the 2003-04 season, when Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem were rookies. That team went on to make the Eastern Conference semifinals.
There have been plenty of teams that lost seven games — or more — in a row and made the playoffs. But none of those has gone on to win a playoff series since Portland in 2016. And no team has ever lost seven consecutive games in what became a championship season; four eventual champions lost six in a row on their way to the title, most recently when Dallas topped Miami in 2011.
“We have to get over this hurdle," Spoelstra said, “one way or another.”