Game ID: 22301002
Philadelphia 76ers @ Phoenix Suns
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 21 39 30 25 115PHI 23 24 19 36 102
PHI @ PHX ScoutingPHI @ 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 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 4 since 3/03, returns tonight: 38 min (105% of 36)
OUT Okogie missed 4 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 5, 32 min since (96% of 34)
BACK Gordon back 3/03 after 3, 26 min since (93% of 28)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 34 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/14 · 2 days' restOUT Okogie missed 5 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Booker back 3/11 after 4, 38 min since (105% of 36)
BACK Gordon back 3/03 after 3, 26 min since (93% of 28)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 34 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/15 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 2 since 3/11, returns tonight: 26 min (92% of 28)
OUT Okogie missed 6 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Booker back 3/11 after 4, 38 min since (105% of 36)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 33 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Okogie missed 7 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Booker back 3/11 after 4, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Gordon back 3/15 after 2, 26 min since (92% of 28)
PHX availability going into 3/20 · 2 days' restOUT Okogie missed 8 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Booker back 3/11 after 4, 38 min since (105% of 36)
BACK Gordon back 3/15 after 2, 24 min since (85% of 28)
PHX availability going into 3/21 · back-to-backOUT Okogie missed 9 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Booker back 3/11 after 4, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Gordon back 3/15 after 2, 22 min since (80% of 28)
PHX availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Okogie missed 10 since 3/03, returns tonight: 10 min (62% of 16)
BACK Gordon back 3/15 after 2, 23 min since (81% of 28)
PHX availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restBACK Gordon back 3/15 after 2, 23 min since (81% of 28)
BACK Okogie back 3/23 after 10, 10 min since (62% of 16)
PHX availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restBACK Okogie back 3/23 after 10, 10 min since (62% of 16)
PHI availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Maxey missed 4 since 3/05, returns tonight: 28 min (73% of 38)
OUT Embiid missed 18 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 6 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 32 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Martin back 3/03 after 3, 11 min since (92% of 12)
NEW Reed 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Payne 18 to 26 min over the last 4
PHI availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 19 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 7 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 33 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Maxey back 3/12 after 4, 28 min since (73% of 38)
NEW Reed 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Payne 18 to 25 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 20 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 8 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 34 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Maxey back 3/12 after 4, 32 min since (85% of 38)
NEW Reed 19 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Dowtin Jr. 12 to 17 min over the last 3
PHI availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 21 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 9 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 35 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Dowtin Jr. missed 2 since 3/14, out tonight
BACK Maxey back 3/12 after 4, 35 min since (92% of 38)
NEW Reed 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Bamba 13 to 21 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 22 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Harris missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 10 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 36 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Dowtin Jr. missed 3 since 3/14, returns tonight: 12 min (102% of 12)
BACK Maxey back 3/12 after 4, 37 min since (96% of 38)
NEW Reed 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Bamba 13 to 21 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 23 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Harris missed 3 since 3/16, returns tonight: 41 min (120% of 34)
OUT Melton missed 11 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 37 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Maxey back 3/12 after 4, 35 min since (92% of 38)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/20 after 3, 12 min since (102% of 12)
NEW Reed 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Bamba 13 to 21 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/24 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 24 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 12 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 38 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Harris back 3/22 after 3, 41 min since (120% of 34)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/20 after 3, 12 min since (102% of 12)
NEW Bamba 13 to 24 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/25 · back-to-backOUT Embiid missed 25 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 13 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 39 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Harris back 3/22 after 3, 39 min since (116% of 34)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/20 after 3, 12 min since (102% of 12)
NEW Bamba 13 to 24 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 26 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 14 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 40 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Harris back 3/22 after 3, 35 min since (102% of 34)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/20 after 3, 12 min since (102% of 12)
NEW Bamba 13 to 21 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 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 16 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Booker at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Okogie (8 straight). 2 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 94 a night and allowing 96, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Maxey at 27 and Oubre Jr. at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Embiid (22 straight), Harris (2 straight), Melton (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Philadelphia allowing 96 a night to Phoenix's 118 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-7 a night and Philadelphia minus-6. Call it Phoenix 111, Philadelphia 109, Philadelphia keeping it close.
3/11 @ CLE 117-111 — PHX notes
PHX won 117-111. PHX shot 55% (46 of 84) to CLE's 48%, 12 of 32 from three. Durant led with 37 (14 of 26, 5 of 10 from three); Booker added 27, Beal 24. The hinge was Q3, 34-21: PHX came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 6. PHX trailed 63-70 at the half and won the second half 54-41. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
3/14 @ BOS 112-127 — PHX notes
PHX lost 112-127. PHX took 10 more shots (99 to 89), fed by 19 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to BOS's 53%, 11 of 31 from three. PHX turned it over 13 times to BOS's 8, and BOS turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 51-33 for them. Booker led with 23 (9 of 20, 1 of 6 from three); Beal added 22, Allen 20. Q4 was theirs, 27-25, the deficit cut from 17 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 102-85 against them. Beal's -21 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/15 @ CHA 107-96 — PHX notes
PHX won 107-96. PHX shot 46% (40 of 87) to CHA's 37%, 11 of 38 from three, and got to the line 20 times to CHA's 27. PHX turned it over 10 times to CHA's 4. Booker led with 21 (6 of 18, 1 of 8 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Allen added 17, Beal 15. The hinge was Q3, 38-22: a lead of 9 became 25. Booker was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/17 @ MIL 129-140 — PHX notes
PHX lost 129-140. PHX shot 59% (51 of 87) to MIL's 54%, 14 of 33 from three. Beal led with 28 (11 of 15, 1 of 3 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Allen added 25, Booker 23. Q3 was theirs, 34-27, the deficit cut from 22 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 113-95 against them. Nurkić's -17 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/20 vs PHI 115-102 — PHX notes
PHX won 115-102. PHX shot 50% (45 of 90) to PHI's 43%, 19 of 39 from three, and got to the line 8 times to PHI's 18. PHX turned it over 23 times to PHI's 9, and PHI turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 55-40 for them. Allen led with 32 (10 of 17, 9 of 15 from three); Durant added 22, Booker 18. The hinge was Q2, 39-24: PHX came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 13, and the lead reached 26. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/21 vs ATL — 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 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 14 free throws a game; Booker at 22 and Allen at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Okogie (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Johnson at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Young (12 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-10 a night and Atlanta minus-4 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 14 times a game to Atlanta's 11. Call it Phoenix 118, Atlanta 114, Atlanta keeping it close.
3/23 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 109, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Vassell at 19 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 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 42 from three, 16 free throws a game; Booker at 23 and Allen at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Okogie (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 42 percent from three to San Antonio's 29 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-10 a night and San Antonio plus-5. Call it Phoenix 115, San Antonio 113, San Antonio keeping it close.
3/25 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 28 from three, 23 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Vassell at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 112, shooting 54 percent and 44 from three, 16 free throws a game; Booker at 25 and Allen at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 44 percent from three to San Antonio's 28 and the line, where San Antonio takes 23 free throws a game to Phoenix's 16. Call it Phoenix 117, San Antonio 113, San Antonio keeping it close.
3/27 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Murray at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Murray (2 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 55 percent and 46 from three, 15 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Durant at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the line, where Denver takes 23 free throws a game to Phoenix's 15 and the defense, Denver allowing 107 a night to Phoenix's 113. Call it Denver 116, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/12 @ NYK 79-106 — PHI notes
PHI lost 79-106. PHI shot 38% (30 of 80) to NYK's 51%, 8 of 33 from three. The glass went 31-51 against them. Oubre Jr. led with 19 (7 of 15, 3 of 6 from three); Maxey added 17, Reed 14. Q4 was theirs, 18-19, but the other 3 periods went 87-61 against them. Maxey's -29 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/14 @ MIL 105-114 — PHI notes
PHI lost 105-114. PHI shot 49% (39 of 79) to MIL's 54%, 17 of 35 from three, and got to the line 14 times to MIL's 24. Maxey led with 30 (12 of 23, 5 of 9 from three); Harris added 15, Payne 13. Q1 was theirs, 29-24, but the other 3 periods went 90-76 against them. They led by as many as 12. Batum's -14 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/16 vs CHA 109-98 — PHI notes
PHI won 109-98. PHI shot 44% (36 of 81) to CHA's 45%, 13 of 41 from three, and went to the line 25 times to CHA's 18 — 24 points from the stripe to their 14. Maxey led with 30 (8 of 20, 3 of 9 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Oubre Jr. added 22, Hield 14. The hinge was Q1, 27-24: from level to 3 ahead. Batum was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/18 vs MIA 98-91 — PHI notes
PHI won 98-91. PHI shot 44% (37 of 85) to MIA's 39%, 13 of 36 from three. Maxey led with 30 (11 of 24, 3 of 10 from three); Oubre Jr. added 22, Lowry 16. The hinge was Q3, 28-16: a lead of 2 became 14, and the lead reached 17. Maxey was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
3/20 @ PHX 102-115 — PHI notes
PHI lost 102-115. PHI shot 43% (41 of 95) to PHX's 50%, 13 of 37 from three, and went to the line 18 times to PHX's 8 — 7 points from the stripe to their 6. PHI turned it over 9 times to PHX's 23. The glass went 40-55 against them. Oubre Jr. led with 18 (7 of 20, 2 of 6 from three); Payne added 12, Dowtin Jr. 12. Q4 was theirs, 36-25, the deficit cut from 24 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 90-66 against them. Payne's -20 in 15 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/22 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 28 and Russell at 23 a game. Without Reddish (4 straight), Vanderbilt (19 straight), Vincent (41 straight). 3 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 105, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Maxey at 23 and Oubre Jr. at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Embiid (23 straight), Harris (3 straight), Melton (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-1 a night and Philadelphia minus-9 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 105 a night to the Lakers' 117. Call it the Lakers 115, Philadelphia 111, Philadelphia keeping it close.
3/24 @ 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 113 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; George at 28 and Leonard at 25 a game. Without Powell (3 straight), Westbrook (11 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 104, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Maxey at 25 and Oubre Jr. at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Embiid (24 straight), Melton (12 straight), Covington (38 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 40 percent from three to Philadelphia's 34 and the glass, where the Clippers have been minus-1 a night and Philadelphia minus-7. Call it the Clippers 113, Philadelphia 108.
3/25 @ SAC — 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 109 a night and allowing 103, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; Fox at 24 and Sabonis at 19 a game. Without Lyles (6 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 102, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Maxey at 23 and Oubre Jr. at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Embiid (25 straight), Melton (13 straight), Covington (39 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-1 a night and Philadelphia minus-6 and the line, where Sacramento takes 23 free throws a game to Philadelphia's 18. Call it Sacramento 112, Philadelphia 108, Philadelphia keeping it close.
3/27 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 104, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Maxey at 23 and Oubre Jr. at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Embiid (26 straight), Melton (14 straight), Covington (40 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 26 and Leonard at 24 a game. One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the defense, Philadelphia allowing 104 a night to the Clippers' 117 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-0 a night and Philadelphia minus-5. Call it Philadelphia 113, the Clippers 110, the Clippers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHIBH B. Hield
CP C. Payne
JD J. Dowtin Jr.
KL K. Lowry
KM K. Martin
KO K. Oubre Jr.
MB M. Bamba
NB N. Batum
PR P. Reed
RC R. Council IV
TM T. Maxey
PHXBB B. Beal
BB B. Bol
DB D. Booker
DE D. Eubanks
DR D. Roddy
EG E. Gordon
GA G. Allen
IT I. Thomas
IW I. Wainright
JN J. Nurkić
KD K. Durant
NL N. Little
NU Nurkic
RO R. O'Neale
TY T. Young
PHI/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
Grayson Allen scores 32, ties career high with 9 3-pointers, Suns beat sliding Sixers 115-102
PHOENIX -- — Grayson Allen scored 32 points and tied a career high with nine 3-pointers, leading the Phoenix Suns past the Philadelphia 76ers 115-102 on Wednesday night.
Allen made 10 of 17 shots from the field, including 9 of 15 from long range. He's made at least eight 3-pointers in seven games this season, which is second in the NBA behind Golden State’s Stephen Curry .
“A lot of them were passes from (Devin) Booker and his pick and rolls tonight, early kick aheads, head up in transition," Allen said. "I told him thank you when we were sitting on the bench after the game. I got a lot of good looks.
“Missed a few early, but the ball kept finding me and I just continued to let it fly.”
Kevin Durant added 22 points for the Suns while Booker had 18 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists, falling just shy of his first regular-season triple double.
It wasn't always a pretty game for the Suns — they had 23 turnovers — but Durant wasn't complaining.
“It's about getting wins, man. We just want to win games,” Durant said. “I know it's about how you win sometimes, but at this point of the season, we just need to add wins.”
The Sixers trailed by 26 points early in the fourth but cut the Suns' lead to 102-91 with 5:15 left. Durant and Allen hit 3s on back-to-back possessions to turn back the rally.
Allen hit back-to-back 3s, sandwiched around a Durant bucket, to give the Suns an 81-64 lead with 4:32 left in the third. Phoenix finished the quarter on a 17-2 run for a 90-66 advantage heading into the fourth.
Philadelphia was led by Kelly Oubre Jr . with 18 points while Cameron Payne and Jeff Dowtin Jr . scored 12 each off the bench. The Sixers made just 7 of 18 (38%) free throws.
The Sixers continued their extended slide — they have a 9-18 record since Jan. 25. It's a stretch that roughly mirrors the time seven-time All-Star center Joel Embiid has missed since surgery on his left knee .
“We just didn't seem to be moving with the energy we needed to be," Sixers coach Nick Nurse said. “We know they can devastate you from 3, and we talked about trying to limit their attempts tonight, and we just couldn't get it done.”
Durant, a 14-time All-Star, passed Shaquille O'Neal for eighth place on the NBA's career scoring list. The 35-year-old has 28,610 points. Next up on the list is Wilt Chamberlain , who has 31,419.
The Suns had a rough start, missing their first eight shots while turning the ball over four times. They recovered in a hurry, using a 23-6 run in the second quarter to push to a 60-47 halftime advantage despite 13 turnovers.
The Suns shot 10 of 20 (50%) from 3-point range and had a 34-18 rebounding advantage before the break. Allen led the way with 13 points, making 4 of 7 3-pointers.
“He's always a threat to do what he did tonight,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said.