Game ID: 22300787
Detroit Pistons @ Phoenix Suns
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 37 33 29 17 116DET 25 16 28 31 100
DET @ PHX ScoutingDET @ 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.
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
PHX availability going into 2/29 · 3 days' restOUT Beal missed 4 since 2/14, out tonight
NEW Bol 11 to 17 min over the last 4
DET availability going into 2/07 · 2 days' restOUT Stewart missed 3 since 1/31, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 3 since 1/31, returns tonight: 28 min (118% of 24)
OUT Rhoden missed 39 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Umude missed 30 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Harris missed 9 since 1/17, returns tonight: 12 min (114% of 11)
BACK Cunningham back 1/27 after 8, 33 min since (97% of 34)
BACK Wiseman back 2/02 after 5, 4 min since (22% of 17)
BACK Gallinari back 1/31 after 3, 18 min since (118% of 15)
DET availability going into 2/08 · back-to-backOUT Stewart missed 4 since 1/31, out tonight
OUT Rhoden missed 40 since 11/12, returns tonight: 13 min (89% of 14)
OUT Umude missed 31 since 12/02, returns tonight: 29 min (223% of 13)
BACK Hayes back 2/07 after 3, 28 min since (118% of 24)
BACK Wiseman back 2/02 after 5, 4 min since (22% of 17)
BACK Gallinari back 1/31 after 3, 16 min since (107% of 15)
BACK Harris back 2/07 after 9, 12 min since (114% of 11)
NEW Ivey 29 to 34 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Stewart missed 5 since 1/31, out tonight
BACK Hayes back 2/07 after 3, 28 min since (118% of 24)
BACK Wiseman back 2/02 after 5, 8 min since (45% of 17)
BACK Gallinari back 1/31 after 3, 16 min since (107% of 15)
BACK Rhoden back 2/08 after 40, 13 min since (89% of 14)
BACK Umude back 2/08 after 31, 29 min since (223% of 13)
BACK Harris back 2/07 after 9, 12 min since (114% of 11)
NEW Ivey 29 to 37 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 2/13 · 2 days' restOUT Stewart missed 6 since 1/31, out tonight
BACK Hayes back 2/07 after 3, 28 min since (118% of 24)
BACK Wiseman back 2/02 after 5, 9 min since (52% of 17)
BACK Rhoden back 2/08 after 40, 13 min since (89% of 14)
BACK Umude back 2/08 after 31, 17 min since (136% of 13)
BACK Harris back 2/07 after 9, 12 min since (114% of 11)
NEW Ivey 29 to 38 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 2/14 · back-to-backOUT Stewart missed 7 since 1/31, out tonight
OUT Rhoden missed 2 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Hayes back 2/07 after 3, 28 min since (118% of 24)
BACK Umude back 2/08 after 31, 17 min since (136% of 13)
BACK Harris back 2/07 after 9, 12 min since (114% of 11)
NEW Ivey 29 to 37 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Stewart missed 8 since 1/31, out tonight
OUT Rhoden missed 3 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Umude missed 2 since 2/13, out tonight
BACK Hayes back 2/07 after 3, 28 min since (118% of 24)
BACK Harris back 2/07 after 9, 12 min since (114% of 11)
NEW Sasser 19 to 25 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 2/24 · 1 day's restOUT Stewart missed 9 since 1/31, out tonight
OUT Rhoden missed 4 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Umude missed 3 since 2/13, out tonight
DET availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Stewart missed 10 since 1/31, out tonight
OUT Evbuomwan missed 2 since 2/22, returns tonight: 8 min (35% of 22)
OUT Rhoden missed 5 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Muscala missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Umude missed 4 since 2/13, out tonight
DET availability going into 2/27 · back-to-backOUT Stewart missed 11 since 1/31, returns tonight: 34 min (111% of 31)
OUT Sasser missed 2 since 2/24, out tonight
OUT Milton missed 2 since 2/24, out tonight
OUT Rhoden missed 6 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Muscala missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Umude missed 5 since 2/13, out tonight
BACK Evbuomwan back 2/26 after 2, 8 min since (35% of 22)
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.
2/06 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 116-100 — PHX notes
PHX won 116-100. PHX shot 45% (35 of 77) to DET's 38%, 10 of 31 from three, and went to the line 44 times to DET's 22 — 36 points from the stripe to their 14. Durant led with 25 (8 of 13, 1 of 3 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Lee added 16, Gordon 13. The hinge was Q2, 33-16: a lead of 12 became 29, and the lead reached 35. O'Neale was the night's best plus/minus at +37.
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.
2/29 vs HOU — 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 118 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 32 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Booker at 23 a game. Without Beal (4 straight). 3 days' rest. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 119, shooting 41 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sengun at 20 and Smith Jr. at 15 a game. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the line, where Phoenix takes 32 free throws a game to Houston's 26 and the arc, Phoenix at 37 percent from three to Houston's 33. Call it Phoenix 118, Houston 111.
2/07 @ SAC 133-120 — DET notes
DET won 133-120. DET shot 56% (47 of 84) to SAC's 47%, 17 of 31 from three. DET turned it over 11 times to SAC's 4. The glass went 48-33 for them. Ivey led with 37 (13 of 23, 5 of 7 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Burks added 25, Duren 20. The hinge was Q4, 36-21: DET came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 13. Sasser was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
2/08 @ POR 128-122 — DET notes
DET won 128-122 in 1 overtime. DET shot 48% (45 of 93) to POR's 46%, 16 of 27 from three. Duren led with 27 (9 of 15, 9 of 10 at the line); Ivey added 26, Cunningham 23. The hinge was Q4, 36-23: DET came in trailing by 13 and left it level. DET trailed 56-71 at the half and won the second half 72-51.
2/10 @ LAC 106-112 — DET notes
DET lost 106-112. DET took 20 more shots (102 to 82), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 44% to LAC's 45%, 9 of 30 from three, and got to the line just 7 times against 19 fouls committed. The glass went 57-35 for them. Ivey led with 23 (10 of 21, 2 of 6 from three); Cunningham added 22, Fontecchio 20. Q2 was theirs, 28-18, turning a 1-point deficit into a 9-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 94-78 against them. They led by as many as 13.
2/13 @ LAL 111-125 — DET notes
DET lost 111-125. DET took 24 more shots (108 to 84), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to LAL's 51%, 8 of 28 from three, and got to the line 17 times to LAL's 30. DET turned it over 10 times to LAL's 15. Thompson led with 19 (9 of 13); Wiseman added 18, Ivey 15. Q4 was theirs, 32-26, the deficit cut from 20 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 99-79 against them. Fontecchio's -19 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/14 @ PHX 100-116 — DET notes
DET lost 100-116. DET took 22 more shots (99 to 77), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 38% to PHX's 45%, 10 of 37 from three, and got to the line 22 times to PHX's 44. Fontecchio led with 18 (7 of 15, 2 of 7 from three); Thompson added 14, Cunningham 13. Q4 was theirs, 31-17, the deficit cut from 30 to 16, but the other 3 periods went 99-69 against them. Wiseman's -28 in 12 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/22 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 54 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and Turner at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Smith (3 straight). 7 days' rest. Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Ivey at 21 and Cunningham at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Stewart (8 straight). 7 days' rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-8 a night and Indiana minus-13. Call it Indiana 122, Detroit 117.
2/24 vs ORL — 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 112 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Cunningham at 20 and Ivey at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Stewart (9 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 53 percent and 43 from three, 20 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 24 and Banchero at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Fultz (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Orlando at 43 percent from three to Detroit's 36 and the defense, Orlando allowing 111 a night to Detroit's 121. Call it Orlando 117, Detroit 113, Detroit keeping it close.
2/26 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brunson at 31 and DiVincenzo at 16 a game. Without Randle (11 straight), Anunoby (11 straight), Robinson (36 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 15 free throws a game; Cunningham at 21 and Fontecchio at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Stewart (10 straight), Evbuomwan (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 112 a night to Detroit's 119. Call it New York 116, Detroit 110.
2/27 @ 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 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; DeRozan at 25 and Vučević at 21 a game. Without Craig (2 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Cunningham at 23 and Fontecchio at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Stewart (11 straight), Sasser (2 straight), Milton (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 15 times a game to Chicago's 10 and the glass, where Chicago has been plus-1 a night and Detroit minus-3. Call it Chicago 119, Detroit 111.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Bol
DB D. Booker
DE D. Eubanks
DR D. Roddy
EG E. Gordon
GA G. Allen
JN J. Nurkić
JO J. Okogie
KD K. Durant
NL N. Little
NU Nurkic
RO R. O'Neale
SL S. Lee
TM T. Maledon
UA U. Azubuike
DETAT A. Thompson
CC C. Cunningham
EF E. Fournier
JD J. Duren
JI J. Ivey
JW J. Wiseman
MF M. Flynn
MM M. Muscala
MS M. Sasser
SF S. Fontecchio
SM S. Milton
TB T. Brown Jr.
TE T. Evbuomwan
PHX/DET 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
Suns shake off Booker's early ejection, roll past Pistons 116-100
PHOENIX -- — Kevin Durant scored 25 points and the Phoenix Suns overcame fellow All-Star Devin Booker 's early ejection to rout Detroit 116-100 on Wednesday night in Pistons coach Monty Williams first game in Phoenix since being fired by the Suns.
Williams coached the Suns from 2019 through last season, leading them to the NBA Finals in 2021. He received a video tribute and a loud ovation from the sellout crowd before the game.
Booker was ejected 5:24 into the game after his second technical foul. He received the first technical for arguing with officials about a foul call against him. During a subsequent timeout and, after the Pistons’ Cade Cunningham shot free throws, Booker received the second one and an automatic ejection. Booker finished with seven points on 2-of-5 shooting.
Suns coach Frank Vogel also received a technical for arguing Booker’s ejection. There were 51 fouls called in the game — 31 on Detroit.
Durant said he was surprised at Booker's ejection, but understood the officials' wanting to control the game because of a pregame altercation between the Pistons' Isaiah Stewart and the Suns' Drew Eubanks that led to Stewart's arrest for assault.
“Yeah it did, because he was talking to me,” Durant said. “I guess (Booker) said something that ticked the ref off, but they were on edge before the game anyway because of the situation and they thought it might escalate. I can see it from their perspective, but I just think the techs were too quick.”
Saben Lee scored 16 points and Eric Gordon had 13 points for Phoenix, with guard Bradley Beal sidelined after straining his left hamstring Tuesday night in a victory over Sacramento. Jusuf Nurkic had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Simone Fontecchio led Detroit with 18 points. Every player who suited up for each team saw playing time in the final game for each squad before the All-Star break.
The Suns led 14-13 when Booker was tossed, then outscored Detroit 23-12 the rest of the quarter and pulled away in the second period for a 70-41 halftime edge. Their biggest lead in the game was 35 points.
“After Devin got thrown out, I knew our young guys didn’t understand what was about to happen,” Pistons coach Monty Williams said. “They got more physical and the game changed, we turned the ball over so many times and the momentum shifted right after that.”
Durant, who didn’t play in the fourth quarter, led the Suns in the first half with 12 points. Gordon, starting for , scored 10 points and Lee also had 10.
Eubanks had six points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes.
Stewart was arrested for assault for punching Eubanks at the arena hours before the teams played. Phoenix police said Stewart was issued a citation and released. Stewart was already listed as out for the game because of a sprained left ankle.
Eubanks said the altercation happened as he was coming into the arena for the game. He said an argument started and they were chest-to-chest before Stewart threw the punch. Security intervened and Eubanks said he was fine for the game.
“Keep the game first. There’s a lot of noise,” Durant said. “It’s unfortunate what happened before the game. It’s supposed to be a brotherhood, but I also understand, dudes get into stuff. We try to avoid that in this league. Hopefully, we can move on from it. We all support Drew.”
Williams, whose new team endured a NBA-record tying 28-game losing streak this season, relished the opportunity to come back and relive the successes of the Suns.
“Getting an opportunity to come (to Phoenix), the partnership I had with the players here in particular Devin, I think about how blessed I was to come here and coach this team,” Williams said before the game. “All the stuff that happened here was a treat.”