Game ID: 22300774
Sacramento Kings @ Phoenix Suns
Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 38 26 30 36 130SAC 39 28 25 33 125
PHX vs SAC ScoutingPHX vs SAC 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 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
PHX availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backOUT Beal missed 2 since 2/14, out tonight
PHX availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 3 since 2/14, out tonight
SAC availability going into 2/05 · 1 day's restOUT Ellis missed 7 since 1/22, returns tonight: 3 min (19% of 17)
OUT Duarte missed 5 since 1/27, returns tonight: 3 min (26% of 12)
OUT Vezenkov missed 6 since 1/25, out tonight
NEW Barnes 29 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Huerter 24 to 31 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's restOUT Vezenkov missed 7 since 1/25, returns tonight: 6 min (45% of 12)
BACK Ellis back 2/05 after 7, 3 min since (19% of 17)
BACK Duarte back 2/05 after 5, 3 min since (26% of 12)
NEW Barnes 29 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Huerter 24 to 32 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 2/09 · 1 day's restBACK Ellis back 2/05 after 7, 3 min since (19% of 17)
BACK Duarte back 2/05 after 5, 3 min since (26% of 12)
BACK Vezenkov back 2/07 after 7, 6 min since (45% of 12)
NEW Huerter 24 to 31 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 2/11 · 1 day's restOUT Duarte missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 2/05 after 7, 4 min since (26% of 17)
BACK Vezenkov back 2/07 after 7, 11 min since (86% of 12)
SAC availability going into 2/13 · 1 day's restOUT Duarte missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 2/05 after 7, 9 min since (51% of 17)
BACK Vezenkov back 2/07 after 7, 11 min since (86% of 12)
SAC availability going into 2/14 · back-to-backOUT Duarte missed 4 since 2/07, returns tonight: 8 min (64% of 12)
OUT Vezenkov missed 2 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 2/05 after 7, 8 min since (49% of 17)
SAC availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Vezenkov missed 3 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Duarte back 2/14 after 4, 8 min since (64% of 12)
SAC availability going into 2/25 · 2 days' restOUT Vezenkov missed 4 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Duarte back 2/14 after 4, 14 min since (114% of 12)
SAC availability going into 2/26 · back-to-backOUT Ellis missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Vezenkov missed 5 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Duarte back 2/14 after 4, 15 min since (119% of 12)
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.
2/04 @ 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 112-113 — PHX notes
PHX lost 112-113. PHX shot 46% (43 of 94) to GSW's 45%, 11 of 34 from three. The glass went 42-52 against them. Booker led with 32 (11 of 21, 2 of 8 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Durant added 24, Beal 15. Q2 was theirs, 30-26, the deficit cut from 5 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 87-82 against them.
2/13 vs SAC 130-125 — PHX notes
PHX won 130-125. PHX shot 52% (44 of 85) to SAC's 52%, 13 of 31 from three, and went to the line 36 times to SAC's 24 — 29 points from the stripe to their 18. The glass went 39-50 against them. Durant led with 28 (11 of 17, 2 of 5 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Booker added 25, Gordon 23. The hinge was Q3, 30-25: PHX came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 2. PHX trailed 64-67 at the half and won the second half 66-58. O'Neale was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
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.
2/23 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 116, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Brooks at 17 and Sengun at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 27 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Booker at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Beal (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-5 a night and Phoenix minus-6 and the arc, Phoenix at 39 percent from three to Houston's 35. Call it Phoenix 115, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
2/25 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 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 31 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Booker at 25 a game. Without Beal (3 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 120, shooting 53 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Davis at 26 and James at 25 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Reddish (13 straight), Vanderbilt (8 straight), Vincent (30 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 15 times a game to the Lakers' 11 and the arc, the Lakers at 40 percent from three to Phoenix's 34. Call it Phoenix 119, the Lakers 117, the Lakers keeping it close.
2/05 @ CLE 110-136 — SAC notes
SAC lost 110-136. SAC shot 46% (43 of 93) to CLE's 58%, 17 of 44 from three. Barnes led with 22 (8 of 15, 6 of 10 from three); Fox added 19, Monk 18. Q3 was theirs, 33-32, the deficit cut from 15 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 104-77 against them. Sabonis's -25 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/07 vs DET 120-133 — SAC notes
SAC lost 120-133. SAC took 11 more shots (95 to 84), but shot 47% to DET's 56%, 15 of 44 from three. SAC turned it over 4 times to DET's 11. The glass went 33-48 against them. Sabonis led with 30 (11 of 17, 1 of 3 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Monk added 23, Lyles 19. Q3 was theirs, 36-27, turning a 7-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 106-84 against them. Sabonis's -17 in 41 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/09 vs DEN 135-106 — SAC notes
SAC won 135-106. SAC shot 59% (51 of 87) to DEN's 46%, 17 of 34 from three, and got to the line 18 times to DEN's 28. Monk led with 23 (9 of 13, 3 of 7 from three); Sabonis added 17, K. Murray 17. The hinge was Q2, 35-22: SAC came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 10, and the lead reached 32. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
2/11 @ OKC 113-127 — SAC notes
SAC lost 113-127. SAC shot 49% (44 of 90) to OKC's 54%, 16 of 42 from three, and got to the line 13 times to OKC's 27. SAC turned it over 18 times to OKC's 9, and OKC turned those into 8 steals. Monk led with 26 (10 of 20, 6 of 10 from three); Sabonis added 21, Fox 15. Q4 was theirs, 30-27, the deficit cut from 17 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 100-83 against them. Fox's -27 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/13 @ PHX 125-130 — SAC notes
SAC lost 125-130. SAC took 10 more shots (95 to 85), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 52% to PHX's 52%, 9 of 31 from three, and got to the line 24 times to PHX's 36. The glass went 50-39 for them. Fox led with 40 (14 of 31, 5 of 12 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Sabonis added 35, Monk 22. Q2 was theirs, 28-26, but the other 3 periods went 104-97 against them. They led by as many as 11. Fox's -9 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/14 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Porter Jr. at 16 a game. One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 126, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Sabonis at 23 and Monk at 22 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 113 a night to Sacramento's 126. Call it Denver 119, Sacramento 114.
2/22 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sabonis at 25 and Fox at 22 a game. 7 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Vassell at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 7 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-2 a night and San Antonio minus-5 and the arc, Sacramento at 36 percent from three to San Antonio's 31. Call it Sacramento 120, San Antonio 112.
2/25 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 22 and George at 21 a game. Without Theis (3 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 117, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 26 and Sabonis at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-5 a night and the Clippers minus-4 and the line, where the Clippers take 24 free throws a game to Sacramento's 18. Call it the Clippers 117, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.
2/26 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 29 and Sabonis at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Ellis (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 102, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Adebayo at 21 and Herro at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Rozier (3 straight), Richardson (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 102 a night to Sacramento's 117. Call it Sacramento 114, Miami 113, Miami keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Beal
BB B. Bol
DB D. Booker
DE D. Eubanks
EG E. Gordon
GA G. Allen
JN J. Nurkić
JO J. Okogie
KD K. Durant
NL N. Little
NU Nurkic
RO R. O'Neale
SACAL A. Len
DF D. Fox
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
KE K. Edwards
KE K. Ellis
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
PHX/SAC 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 28, Devin Booker adds 25, Suns outlast Kings 130-125
PHOENIX -- — Kevin Durant scored 28 points, Devin Booker added 25 and the Phoenix Suns outlasted the Sacramento Kings 130-125 on Tuesday night.
Eric Gordon had 23 points, filling in nicely for starting guard Bradley Beal , who left with a hamstring injury after just five minutes on the floor. Recently acquired veteran Royce O'Neale added nine points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals for Phoenix.
“I just liked everybody's minutes,” Durant said. “Everybody understood the assignment, kept the game simple on both ends, and we just played.”
The Kings lost despite another monster game from Domantas Sabonis , who had his third straight triple-double with 35 points, 18 rebounds and 12 assists. De’Aaron Fox scored 40 for Sacramento, and Malik Monk added 22 off the bench.
The Suns erased an 11-point deficit in the third quarter to take a 94-92 lead going into the fourth. Gordon and O'Neale hit back-to-back 3-pointers early in the final period to push Phoenix ahead 103-94.
The Kings fought back, tying it at 108 on a putback by Sabonis with 5:25 left. The game stayed tight the rest of the way, and O'Neale's 3-pointer with 47 seconds left put the Suns up 122-118.
Fox responded with a 3 to cut the margin to 122-121 with 41 seconds remaining, but Booker hit a jumper after a timeout for a 124-121 advantage and the Suns made enough free throws on the final possessions to stay in control.
Booker scored 20 points in the second half and passed Alvan Adams to become the second-leading scorer in franchise history.
“He’s got a unique knack for feeling the game out,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “Big part of the W."
The Kings outrebounded the Suns 50-39 but made just 29% of their 3-pointers, going 9 for 31 behind the arc.
Beal injured his left hamstring in the first quarter and didn't return. The three-time All-Star has had a hard time staying healthy this season, also dealing with back and ankle ailments. He's played in 30 of the team's 54 games.
Vogel said Beal would definitely miss the next game against Detroit on Wednesday, but was optimistic he wouldn't miss much more time. Beal is averaging 18.5 points per game this season.
Sacramento shot 58% from the field on the way to a 67-64 halftime lead. Sabonis led the Kings with 19 points before the break, while Gordon scored 20 for Phoenix.