Game ID: 22300739
Utah Jazz @ Phoenix Suns
Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 40 35 34 20 129UTA 28 38 24 25 115
PHX vs UTA ScoutingPHX vs UTA 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 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)
PHX availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restBACK Watanabe back 1/31 after 3, 3 min since (24% of 13)
BACK Bol back 2/04 after 11, 16 min since (152% of 11)
PHX availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restBACK Watanabe back 1/31 after 3, 3 min since (24% of 13)
BACK Bol back 2/04 after 11, 16 min since (146% of 11)
PHX availability going into 2/13 · 2 days' restBACK Bol back 2/04 after 11, 14 min since (130% of 11)
PHX availability going into 2/14 · back-to-backBACK Bol back 2/04 after 11, 12 min since (108% of 11)
PHX availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' rest
full strength
UTA availability going into 1/30 · back-to-backOUT Hendricks missed 8 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 22 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 8 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 22 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Horton-Tucker back 1/23 after 8, 8 min since (40% of 20)
BACK Yurtseven back 1/25 after 3, 4 min since (38% of 11)
UTA availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 9 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 23 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 9 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 23 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Horton-Tucker back 1/23 after 8, 8 min since (40% of 20)
BACK Yurtseven back 1/25 after 3, 4 min since (38% of 11)
UTA availability going into 2/04 · 2 days' restOUT Hendricks missed 10 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 2 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 24 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 10 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 24 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Yurtseven back 1/25 after 3, 3 min since (25% of 11)
UTA availability going into 2/06 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 11 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 3 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 25 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 11 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 25 since 12/18, out tonight
UTA availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 12 since 1/13, returns tonight: 18 min (82% of 21)
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 4 since 1/30, returns tonight: 14 min (69% of 20)
OUT Juzang missed 26 since 12/18, returns tonight: 2 min (9% of 19)
OUT Sensabaugh missed 12 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 26 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 2 since 2/04, returns tonight: 2 min (15% of 11)
UTA availability going into 2/12 · 3 days' restOUT Sensabaugh missed 13 since 1/13, returns tonight: 2 min (13% of 18)
OUT Potter missed 27 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Hendricks back 2/08 after 12, 18 min since (82% of 21)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 2/08 after 4, 14 min since (69% of 20)
BACK Juzang back 2/08 after 26, 2 min since (9% of 19)
BACK Yurtseven back 2/08 after 2, 2 min since (15% of 11)
UTA availability going into 2/14 · 1 day's restOUT Potter missed 28 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Hendricks back 2/08 after 12, 18 min since (86% of 21)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 2/08 after 4, 15 min since (75% of 20)
BACK Juzang back 2/08 after 26, 2 min since (9% of 19)
BACK Sensabaugh back 2/12 after 13, 2 min since (13% of 18)
BACK Yurtseven back 2/08 after 2, 2 min since (18% of 11)
UTA availability going into 2/15 · back-to-backOUT Juzang missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 29 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Preston missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Hendricks back 2/08 after 12, 18 min since (83% of 21)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 2/08 after 4, 15 min since (77% of 20)
BACK Sensabaugh back 2/12 after 13, 2 min since (13% of 18)
BACK Yurtseven back 2/08 after 2, 2 min since (19% of 11)
UTA availability going into 2/22 · 6 days' restOUT Juzang missed 3 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 30 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Preston missed 3 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Hendricks back 2/08 after 12, 17 min since (81% of 21)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 2/08 after 4, 13 min since (65% of 20)
BACK Sensabaugh back 2/12 after 13, 2 min since (13% of 18)
BACK Yurtseven back 2/08 after 2, 2 min since (19% of 11)
NEW George 27 to 32 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 114, shooting 55 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Booker at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Markkanen at 22 and Sexton at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Hendricks (12 straight), Horton-Tucker (4 straight), Juzang (26 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 114 a night to Utah's 123. Call it Phoenix 123, Utah 115.
1/31 @ BKN 136-120 — PHX notes
PHX won 136-120. PHX shot 62% (49 of 79) to BKN's 50%, 14 of 28 from three, and went to the line 32 times to BKN's 13 — 24 points from the stripe to their 10. The glass went 42-27 for them. Durant led with 33 (10 of 16, 2 of 6 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Nurkić added 28, Booker 22. The hinge was Q3, 42-26: a lead of 3 became 19. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
2/02 @ ATL 120-129 — PHX notes
PHX lost 120-129. PHX shot 53% (47 of 88) to ATL's 52%, 14 of 37 from three. PHX turned it over 16 times to ATL's 9. Durant led with 35 (14 of 24, 5 of 9 from three); Booker added 24, Beal 14. Q2 was theirs, 33-33, but the other 3 periods went 96-87 against them.
2/04 @ WAS 140-112 — PHX notes
PHX won 140-112. PHX shot 61% (54 of 88) to WAS's 49%, 11 of 25 from three, and went to the line 26 times to WAS's 17 — 21 points from the stripe to their 11. Beal led with 43 (16 of 21, 4 of 5 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Durant added 18, Nurkić 18. The hinge was Q1, 42-28: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 32. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
2/06 vs MIL 114-106 — PHX notes
PHX won 114-106. PHX shot 51% (44 of 87) to MIL's 43%, 8 of 28 from three. Booker led with 32 (12 of 21, 2 of 6 from three, 6 of 10 at the line); Durant added 28, Beal 25. The hinge was Q3, 31-24: PHX came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 6, and the lead reached 15. PHX trailed 48-49 at the half and won the second half 66-57. Gordon was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
2/08 vs UTA 129-115 — PHX notes
PHX won 129-115. PHX shot 59% (52 of 88) to UTA's 44%, 14 of 29 from three, and got to the line 16 times to UTA's 31. The glass went 37-52 against them. Durant led with 31 (14 of 23, 2 of 6 from three); Beal added 30, Gordon 19. The hinge was Q1, 40-28: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
2/10 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Curry at 32 and Kuminga at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Paul (14 straight), Payton II (16 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 116, shooting 57 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Beal at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-12 a night and Phoenix plus-1 and the arc, Phoenix at 41 percent from three to Golden State's 37. Call it Golden State 120, Phoenix 117, Phoenix keeping it close.
2/13 vs SAC — 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 123 a night and allowing 115, shooting 54 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Booker at 26 a game. 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 123, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Monk at 22 and Fox at 20 a game. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 115 a night to Sacramento's 123. Call it Phoenix 122, Sacramento 116.
2/14 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 114, shooting 54 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Booker at 26 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Ivey at 24 and Cunningham at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Stewart (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-9 a night and Phoenix minus-5. Call it Phoenix 122, Detroit 113.
2/22 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 105, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Dončić at 32 and Irving at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Exum (10 straight). 7 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 112, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Booker at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 7 days' rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-5 a night and Phoenix minus-5 and the line, where Phoenix takes 28 free throws a game to Dallas's 21. Call it Dallas 118, Phoenix 114, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/30 @ NYK 103-118 — UTA notes
UTA lost 103-118. UTA shot 45% (39 of 86) to NYK's 47%, 12 of 36 from three. UTA turned it over 14 times to NYK's 5, and NYK turned those into 9 steals. Sexton led with 22 (7 of 13, 2 of 4 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); George added 15, Markkanen 14. Q4 was theirs, 30-25, the deficit cut from 20 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 93-73 against them. Clarkson's -19 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/01 vs PHI 124-127 — UTA notes
UTA lost 124-127. UTA shot 52% (45 of 87) to PHI's 50%, 12 of 36 from three. UTA turned it over 9 times to PHI's 4. Markkanen led with 28 (10 of 15, 4 of 9 from three); Sexton added 22, Clarkson 16. Q3 was theirs, 32-22, the deficit cut from 10 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 105-92 against them. Collins's -7 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/04 vs MIL 123-108 — UTA notes
UTA won 123-108. UTA shot 48% (43 of 89) to MIL's 46%, 17 of 44 from three. UTA turned it over 16 times to MIL's 11, and MIL turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 52-32 for them. Markkanen led with 21 (8 of 15, 5 of 10 from three); Sexton added 19, George 19. The hinge was Q4, 40-13: UTA came in trailing by 12 and left it ahead by 15. UTA trailed 53-63 at the half and won the second half 70-45. Olynyk was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
2/06 vs OKC 124-117 — UTA notes
UTA won 124-117. UTA shot 52% (46 of 89) to OKC's 48%, 14 of 35 from three. UTA turned it over 17 times to OKC's 11, and OKC turned those into 9 steals. The glass went 48-32 for them. Markkanen led with 33 (12 of 18, 5 of 7 from three); Collins added 22, George 16. The hinge was Q3, 35-24: UTA came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 4. UTA trailed 61-68 at the half and won the second half 63-49. Dunn was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
2/08 @ PHX 115-129 — UTA notes
UTA lost 115-129. UTA shot 44% (41 of 94) to PHX's 59%, 12 of 35 from three, and went to the line 31 times to PHX's 16 — 21 points from the stripe to their 11. The glass went 52-37 for them. Markkanen led with 22 (8 of 15, 2 of 6 from three); Collins added 21, Sexton 19. Q4 was theirs, 25-20, the deficit cut from 19 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 109-90 against them. Collins's -20 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/12 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Sexton at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Sensabaugh (13 straight). 3 days' rest. Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Curry at 34 and Kuminga at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 13 a night. Without Paul (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Golden State allowing 113 a night to Utah's 120 and the line, where Utah takes 23 free throws a game to Golden State's 18. Call it Golden State 119, Utah 118, Utah keeping it close.
2/14 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Markkanen at 25 and Sexton at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 114, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; James at 24 and Russell at 24 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Reddish (10 straight), Vanderbilt (5 straight), Vincent (27 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-9 a night and the Lakers minus-4 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 15 times a game to the Lakers' 10. Call it Utah 119, the Lakers 118, the Lakers keeping it close.
2/15 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 124, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Markkanen at 22 and Sexton at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Juzang (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 44 from three, 16 free throws a game; Curry at 29 and Kuminga at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Paul (17 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Golden State at 44 percent from three to Utah's 36 and the defense, Golden State allowing 112 a night to Utah's 124. Call it Golden State 121, Utah 118, Utah keeping it close.
2/22 vs CHA — 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 121 a night and allowing 131, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Markkanen at 22 and Sexton at 22 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Juzang (3 straight). 6 days' rest. Charlotte comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Bridges at 24 and Miller at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. 7 days' rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the defense, Charlotte allowing 110 a night to Utah's 131. Call it Utah 118, Charlotte 117, Charlotte keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Beal
BB B. Bol
DE D. Eubanks
EG E. Gordon
GA G. Allen
JN J. Nurkić
JO J. Okogie
KD K. Durant
NL N. Little
NU Nurkic
SL S. Lee
TM T. Maledon
UTACS C. Sexton
JC J. Clarkson
JC J. Collins
JJ J. Juzang
JP J. Preston
KD K. Dunn
KG K. George
LM L. Markkanen
OY O. Yurtseven
TH T. Hendricks
TH T. Horton-Tucker
WK W. Kessler
PHX/UTA 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 31 points, Bradley Beal adds 30 in Suns' 129-115 victory over Jazz
PHOENIX -- — Kevin Durant scored 31 points, Bradley Beal had 30 and the Phoenix Suns — with All-Star Devin Booker sidelined by a sore left hip — beat the Utah Jazz 129-115 on Thursday night.
The Suns never trailed, winning their third straight game and 12th of 15. They also swept the four-game, regular-season series from the Jazz.
It was an offensive showcase for the Suns, who shot nearly 60% from the field, had 37 assists to just 12 turnovers and scored 30 fast-break points, hitting the Jazz with waves of offense, particularly in the first half.
“Our whole team is sharing the basketball,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “We want to become a team-first team. We've got elite scorers, we've got elite individual talent, but I love how we're playing together.”
Lauri Markkanen led Utah with 22 points, while John Collins had 21 and Collin Sexton 19.
Phoenix jumped out to a 40-28 lead in the first quarter, with Durant scoring 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting. The Suns settled for a 75-66 halftime lead.
Utah cut it to 81-78 early in the third but Phoenix used a 13-0 run — highlighted by 3-pointers from Gordon and Beal — to regain control. The Suns built a 109-90 lead by the end of the third quarter and never trailed in the fourth, keeping a double-digit margin throughout.
“Cut it to three and then after that, we just had some possessions were we took a few bad shots, a couple of turnovers and it allowed them to play against an unset defense,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “It was another night where, in those moments, we never got a break with them just missing one. They did a great job of capitalizing on those moments.”
Gordon scored 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting, Jusuf Nurkic had 16 points and eight rebounds, and Grayson Allen added eight points and a career-high 14 assists.
Allen nearly doubled his previous career high of eight assists. The sixth-year player is known for his 3-point shooting, but with Booker on the bench, he was more of a ballhandler against the Jazz.
“We’ve had guys in and out of the lineup all season, so we kind of understand our roles when guys are out," Durant said. “It's a next-man-up mentality in this league.”
Earlier Thursday, the Suns re-tooled their bench at the trade deadline, adding Royce O'Neale from the Brooklyn and David Roddy from Memphis, but neither was available on Thursday. Utah also made a pair of moves, adding Kevin Knox II , Kira Lewis Jr . and Otto Porter Jr ., who were also unavailable.