Game ID: 22300113
San Antonio Spurs @ Phoenix Suns
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 10:00 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 27 36 32 19 114SAS 18 27 37 33 115
PHX vs SAS ScoutingPHX vs SAS 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.
PHX availability going into 10/24 · season opener
full strength
PHX availability going into 10/26 · 1 day's rest
full strength
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
SAS availability going into 10/25 · season opener
full strength
SAS availability going into 10/27 · 1 day's rest
full strength
SAS availability going into 10/29 · 1 day's restOUT Champagnie missed 2 since 10/25, returns tonight: 7 min (35% of 20)
OUT Wesley missed 2 since 10/25, returns tonight: 7 min (48% of 14)
OUT Graham missed 2 since 10/25, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 2 since 10/25, returns tonight: 5 min (38% of 13)
SAS availability going into 10/31 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 3 since 10/25, out tonight
BACK Champagnie back 10/29 after 2, 7 min since (35% of 20)
BACK Wesley back 10/29 after 2, 7 min since (48% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 10/29 after 2, 5 min since (38% of 13)
NEW Collins 22 to 32 min over the last 3
SAS availability going into 11/02 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 4 since 10/25, out tonight
BACK Champagnie back 10/29 after 2, 5 min since (25% of 20)
BACK Wesley back 10/29 after 2, 7 min since (48% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 10/29 after 2, 5 min since (38% of 13)
NEW Collins 22 to 31 min over the last 4
SAS availability going into 11/05 · 2 days' restOUT Wesley missed 2 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Graham missed 5 since 10/25, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 2 since 10/31, out tonight
BACK Champagnie back 10/29 after 2, 5 min since (25% of 20)
NEW Collins 22 to 32 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/06 · back-to-backOUT Wesley missed 3 since 10/31, returns tonight: 8 min (53% of 14)
OUT Graham missed 6 since 10/25, returns tonight: 12 min (88% of 14)
OUT Barlow missed 3 since 10/31, returns tonight: 8 min (60% of 13)
BACK Champagnie back 10/29 after 2, 6 min since (28% of 20)
NEW Collins 22 to 33 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/08 · 1 day's restOUT Vassell missed 2 since 11/05, returns tonight: 12 min (36% of 33)
OUT Cissoko missed 2 since 11/05, out tonight
BACK Champagnie back 10/29 after 2, 8 min since (42% of 20)
BACK Wesley back 10/29 after 2, 7 min since (50% of 14)
BACK Graham back 11/06 after 6, 12 min since (88% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 10/29 after 2, 6 min since (49% of 13)
NEW Collins 22 to 29 min over the last 5
10/24 @ GSW 108-104 — PHX notes
PHX won 108-104. PHX shot 44% (42 of 95) to GSW's 36%, 11 of 33 from three, and got to the line 17 times to GSW's 28. PHX turned it over 19 times to GSW's 11, and GSW turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 60-49 for them. Booker led with 32 (13 of 21, 3 of 8 from three); Durant added 18, Okogie 17. The hinge was Q2, 33-18: from level to 15 ahead.
10/26 @ LAL 95-100 — PHX notes
PHX lost 95-100. PHX shot 42% (34 of 81) to LAL's 43%, 9 of 31 from three, and got to the line 23 times to LAL's 29. Durant led with 39 (14 of 28, 1 of 5 from three, 10 of 13 at the line); Gordon added 15, Goodwin 14. Q1 was theirs, 30-18, but the other 3 periods went 82-65 against them. They led by as many as 12. Gordon's -27 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
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.
11/05 @ DET — 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.
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.
10/25 vs DAL 119-126 — SAS notes
SAS lost 119-126. SAS shot 52% (46 of 89) to DAL's 47%, 11 of 35 from three. SAS turned it over 19 times to DAL's 12. Vassell led with 23 (9 of 17, 1 of 6 from three); Johnson added 17, Jones 16. Q1 was theirs, 43-36, but the other 3 periods went 90-76 against them. They led by as many as 12.
10/27 vs HOU 126-122 — SAS notes
SAS won 126-122 in 1 overtime. SAS shot 49% (46 of 94) to HOU's 52%, 13 of 42 from three, and went to the line 28 times to HOU's 20 — 21 points from the stripe to their 10. Vassell led with 25 (7 of 13, 3 of 7 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Wembanyama added 21, Johnson 20. The hinge was Q4, 35-28: SAS came in trailing by 7 and left it level. Jones was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
10/29 @ LAC 83-123 — SAS notes
SAS lost 83-123. SAS shot 38% (30 of 80) to LAC's 52%, 11 of 33 from three. SAS turned it over 25 times to LAC's 16, and LAC turned those into 15 steals. The glass went 37-48 against them. Vassell led with 14 (6 of 10, 1 of 3 from three); Osman added 12, Wembanyama 11. Q1 was theirs, 17-23, but the other 3 periods went 100-66 against them. Collins's -36 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
10/31 @ PHX 115-114 — SAS notes
SAS won 115-114. SAS shot 47% (43 of 92) to PHX's 51%, 14 of 37 from three. SAS turned it over 12 times to PHX's 19. Johnson led with 27 (10 of 20, 4 of 9 from three); Vassell added 18, Wembanyama 18. The hinge was Q4, 33-19: SAS came in trailing by 13 and left it ahead by 1. SAS trailed 45-63 at the half and won the second half 70-51.
11/05 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Vassell at 19 a game. 2 days' rest. Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Barnes at 22 and Siakam at 17 a game. Without Freeman-Liberty (4 straight), Achiuwa (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the defense, Toronto allowing 108 a night to San Antonio's 121 and the glass, where Toronto has been plus-2 a night and San Antonio minus-3. Call it San Antonio 113, Toronto 112, Toronto keeping it close.
11/06 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 124, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Haliburton at 25 and Turner at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Sheppard (2 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 22 and Vassell at 18 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 16 times a game to Indiana's 13. Call it Indiana 122, San Antonio 117.
11/08 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 98, shooting 40 percent and 27 from three, 23 free throws a game; Brunson at 22 and Barrett at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 127, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 20 and Vassell at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Vassell (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 98 a night to San Antonio's 127 and the glass, where New York has been plus-11 a night and San Antonio minus-5. Call it New York 116, San Antonio 105, New York by 11.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SASCB C. Bassey
CO C. Osman
DM D. McDermott
DV D. Vassell
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
MB M. Branham
TJ T. Jones
VW V. Wembanyama
ZC Z. Collins
PHXDE D. Eubanks
EG E. Gordon
GA G. Allen
JG J. Goodwin
JN J. Nurkić
JO J. Okogie
KD K. Durant
NL N. Little
NU Nurkic
YW Y. Watanabe
SAS/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
Keldon Johnson's late basket gives Spurs only lead of game, 115-114 win over Suns
PHOENIX -- — Keldon Johnson stripped Kevin Durant and made a contested layup with 1.2 seconds left to give the Spurs their only lead of the game and a 115-114 victory over the stunned Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.
The Spurs, who trailed by as many as 20 points, broke a nine-game losing streak against Phoenix.
Johnson had 27 points to lead San Antonio, which outscored the Suns 33-19 in the fourth quarter. The Spurs were coming off a 40-point loss to the Clippers on Sunday in Los Angeles.
After rookie Victor Wembanyama 's dunk cut the lead to one, the Spurs trapped Durant in the corner.
“I went for a steal (earlier) and I saw Tre (Jones) had him in the corner and I was just like, the worst that happens is they call a foul," Johnson said. "We had to make something happen.
“We kept fighting, stay together regardless of what’s going on. Try to correct our mistakes.”
Suns coach Frank Vogel saw the decisive play differently.
“They fouled him, the refs didn't call it,” Vogel said. “They whacked him on the arm before the ball gets ripped out of his hands. No call. In a situation like that, we try to get a quick inbounds to our 90% free-throw shooter, and we did.”
Playing in his fourth NBA game, top draft pick Wembanyama missed his first five shots before throwing down a sensational dunk in the final seconds of the first half. He scored 18 points and had a team-high eight rebounds in 28 minutes. Devin Vassell also had 18 for the Spurs.
“They responded great,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, referring to the blowout in the previous game. “They kept playing through it. We made a gazillion mistakes, but it’s a game of mistakes. We kept playing and that’s the best thing. I was really proud of them.”
Durant led Phoenix with 26 points. Eric Gordon scored 20, Grayson Allen had 19 on 5 of 7 shooting from 3-point range for the Suns, who played without injured starting guards Bradley Beal and Devin Booker .
Jusuf Nurkic had a game-high 12 rebounds for Phoenix, which scored the game's first eight points.
Popovich called a timeout 53 seconds into the game after Durant’s fastbreak dunk made it 4-0. It didn’t help much as Phoenix went on to lead 27-18 at the end of the quarter. Durant had 10 points in the period, finishing with a step-back jumper as time was running out. The Spurs shot 29% from the field in the quarter and made just 1 of 11 from 3-point range.
Phoenix led 63-45 at halftime and 95-82 after three quarters before the Spurs rallied.
Before the game, Vogel said “there’s no timetable” for the return of Booker (left ankle sprain) and Bradley Beal (low back spasms).
“They’re working very hard to get back as soon as possible,” Vogel said, noting that they have resumed some on-court activities in practice.