Game ID: 22301010
Atlanta Hawks @ Phoenix Suns
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 10:30 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 30 35 31 32 128ATL 37 23 33 22 115
ATL @ PHX ScoutingATL @ 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 3/14 · 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)
PHX availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Okogie missed 2 since 3/25, returns tonight: 14 min (88% of 16)
ATL availability going into 3/13 · 2 days' restOUT Young missed 8 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 2 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Okongwu missed 10 since 2/14, out tonight
OUT Windler missed 4 since 3/05, returns tonight: 5 min (39% of 12)
OUT Gueye missed 60 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 4 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Krejčí back 3/06 after 6, 16 min since (65% of 25)
BACK Matthews back 3/08 after 3, 4 min since (37% of 12)
NEW Fernando 15 to 22 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 3/15 · 1 day's restOUT Young missed 9 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 3 since 3/08, returns tonight: 35 min (103% of 34)
OUT Okongwu missed 11 since 2/14, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 61 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 5 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Krejčí back 3/06 after 6, 20 min since (80% of 25)
BACK Windler back 3/13 after 4, 5 min since (39% of 12)
BACK Matthews back 3/08 after 3, 8 min since (66% of 12)
NEW Fernando 15 to 22 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Young missed 10 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Okongwu missed 12 since 2/14, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 62 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 6 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/15 after 3, 35 min since (103% of 34)
BACK Krejčí back 3/06 after 6, 22 min since (88% of 25)
BACK Windler back 3/13 after 4, 5 min since (39% of 12)
BACK Matthews back 3/08 after 3, 10 min since (86% of 12)
NEW Fernando 15 to 21 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 3/18 · back-to-backOUT Young missed 11 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Okongwu missed 13 since 2/14, returns tonight: 19 min (73% of 26)
OUT Windler missed 2 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 63 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 7 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/15 after 3, 35 min since (105% of 34)
BACK Matthews back 3/08 after 3, 11 min since (92% of 12)
NEW Fernando 15 to 21 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 3/21 · 2 days' restOUT Young missed 12 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Windler missed 3 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 64 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 8 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/15 after 3, 34 min since (102% of 34)
BACK Okongwu back 3/18 after 13, 19 min since (73% of 26)
ATL availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Young missed 13 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Windler missed 4 since 3/15, returns tonight: 19 min (157% of 12)
OUT Gueye missed 65 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 9 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/15 after 3, 34 min since (102% of 34)
BACK Okongwu back 3/18 after 13, 19 min since (74% of 26)
ATL availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Young missed 14 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 2 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 66 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 10 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Okongwu back 3/18 after 13, 19 min since (74% of 26)
BACK Windler back 3/23 after 4, 19 min since (157% of 12)
NEW Mathews 15 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Forrest 11 to 17 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Young missed 15 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 3 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 67 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 11 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Okongwu back 3/18 after 13, 19 min since (74% of 26)
BACK Windler back 3/23 after 4, 10 min since (86% of 12)
NEW Krejčí 25 to 30 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 3/28 · back-to-backOUT Young missed 16 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 4 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 68 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 12 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Okongwu back 3/18 after 13, 19 min since (74% of 26)
BACK Windler back 3/23 after 4, 13 min since (104% of 12)
NEW Krejčí 25 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Mathews 15 to 22 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 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.
3/14 @ 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 128-115 — PHX notes
PHX won 128-115. PHX shot 55% (41 of 74) to ATL's 44%, 22 of 41 from three. PHX turned it over 17 times to ATL's 8, and ATL turned those into 11 steals. Booker led with 30 (10 of 15, 6 of 8 from three); Gordon added 21, Durant 19. The hinge was Q2, 35-23: PHX came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 5. Bol was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
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.
3/29 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 22 and Jal. Williams at 21 a game. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 105, shooting 53 percent and 47 from three, 14 free throws a game; Booker at 27 and Durant at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Okogie (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 47 percent from three to OKC's 34 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-8 a night and OKC minus-1. Call it OKC 115, Phoenix 114, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/13 @ POR 102-106 — ATL notes
ATL lost 102-106. ATL shot 43% (38 of 88) to POR's 46%, 14 of 39 from three, and got to the line 18 times to POR's 24. The glass went 38-49 against them. D. Murray led with 40 (15 of 29, 6 of 13 from three); Capela added 13, Hunter 11. Q1 was theirs, 24-17, but the other 3 periods went 89-78 against them. They led by as many as 16. D. Murray's -13 in 43 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/15 @ UTA 122-124 — ATL notes
ATL lost 122-124. ATL shot 45% (41 of 92) to UTA's 51%, 20 of 39 from three, and went to the line 27 times to UTA's 20 — 20 points from the stripe to their 18. Murray led with 33 (10 of 27, 5 of 14 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Hunter added 27, Johnson 26. Q2 was theirs, 34-27, turning a 6-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 97-88 against them. Mathews's -11 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/17 @ LAC 110-93 — ATL notes
ATL won 110-93. ATL shot 49% (41 of 84) to LAC's 38%, 17 of 34 from three, and got to the line 12 times to LAC's 29. Murray led with 21 (7 of 14, 5 of 10 from three); Hunter added 20, Johnson 18. The hinge was Q2, 30-15: a lead of 2 became 17, and the lead reached 29. Capela was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
3/18 @ LAL 105-136 — ATL notes
ATL lost 105-136. ATL took 8 more shots (98 to 90), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to LAL's 58%, 9 of 41 from three. Johnson led with 25 (9 of 20, 2 of 11 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Bogdanović added 17, Murray 13. Q2 was theirs, 31-35, but the other 3 periods went 101-74 against them. Murray's -25 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/21 @ PHX 115-128 — ATL notes
ATL lost 115-128. ATL took 17 more shots (91 to 74), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 44% to PHX's 55%, 12 of 35 from three. ATL turned it over 8 times to PHX's 17. Murray led with 29 (11 of 26, 3 of 10 from three); Hunter added 22, Bogdanović 16. Q1 was theirs, 37-30, but the other 3 periods went 98-78 against them. They led by as many as 14. Okongwu's -19 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/23 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Murray at 27 and Johnson at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Young (13 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 18 free throws a game; Bridges at 20 and Micić at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. 3 days' rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 38 percent from three to Charlotte's 29 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 108 a night to Atlanta's 117. Call it Atlanta 115, Charlotte 110.
3/25 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murray at 25 and Johnson at 23 a game. Without Young (14 straight), Johnson (2 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 44 from three, 22 free throws a game; Tatum at 29 and Brown at 28 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holiday (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 106 a night to Atlanta's 114 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-3 a night and Atlanta minus-1. Call it Boston 119, Atlanta 114.
3/27 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 17 free throws a game; Murray at 22 and Hunter at 17 a game. Without Young (15 straight), Johnson (3 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Henderson at 19 and Banton at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Simons (2 straight), Sharpe (35 straight), Ayton (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 40 percent from three to Portland's 33 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 14 times a game to Atlanta's 10. Call it Atlanta 118, Portland 110.
3/28 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Bogdanović at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Young (16 straight), Johnson (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Tatum at 31 and Brown at 27 a game. Without Holiday (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 110 a night to Atlanta's 116. Call it Boston 119, Atlanta 115, Atlanta 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
KD K. Durant
NU Nurkic
RO R. O'Neale
ATLBB B. Bogdanović
BF B. Fernando
BO Bogdanovic
CC C. Capela
DH D. Hunter
DM D. Murray
GM G. Mathews
KR Krejci
OO O. Okongwu
TF T. Forrest
VK V. Krejčí
WM W. Matthews
PHX/ATL 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
Devin Booker scores 30 points, Suns get hot from 3-point range to beat Hawks 128-115
PHOENIX -- — Devin Booker scored 30 points, Eric Gordon added 21 off the bench and the Phoenix Suns beat the Atlanta Hawks 128-115 on Thursday night.
Phoenix won largely thanks to superior long-range shooting, making 22 of 41 3-pointers. Booker hit six 3s while Gordon and Royce O'Neale both added four. Kevin Durant had 19 points and Grayson Allen added 13.
The Suns are 12 games above .500 for the first time this season at 41-29. They've won six of their past nine. Booker had another efficient performance, making 10 of 15 shots and hitting three 3s late in the fourth quarter to finish off the Hawks.
“This is more of what we expect out of our group, with the talent we have top to bottom,” Booker said.
Atlanta has lost five of six. Dejounte Murray scored 29 points while De'Andre Hunter added 22.
The Suns led by five at halftime and took a 96-93 lead into the fourth.
Phoenix had a big push midway through the final quarter when O'Neale, Gordon and Bol Bol connected for 3-pointers on three straight offensive possessions for a 112-98 lead. The Suns got 47 points from the bench on 17 of 24 shooting.
“Probably the best bench performance of the season,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said.
The Hawks responded by cutting the margin to 115-110 with 5:24 left but Durant hit a jumper to turn back the threat.
“I think we competed the whole game, which is the most important thing,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “They shot over 50% from three as a team, which is tough to handle, especially against a team that's also so good from mid-range."
The Suns prevailed despite ample adversity in the second half.
Booker picked up his fifth foul midway through the third quarter, forcing Vogel to sit the four-time All-Star until midway through the fourth. Starting center Jusuf Nurkic also missed a big chunk of the second half after getting hit in the side of the face, which sent him back to the locker room for several minutes.
The Suns — playing on the second night of back-to-back games — looked sluggish early, falling into a 25-11 hole. They fought back fairly quickly and Bradley Beal 's two-handed jam tied the game at 37 early in the second quarter.
Phoenix won another game as they fight to stay out of the play-in tournament in the Western Conference. The top six teams automatically advance to the first round. The Suns are currently tied for sixth with Dallas, but the Mavs hold the tiebreaker.
“We want to finish in the top six,” Vogel said. “But the competition is fierce.”
Phoenix took a 65-60 lead into halftime. Booker led the Suns with 13 before the break while Murray had 18 for the Hawks.
Atlanta's All-Star guard Trae Young missed his 13th straight game with a torn finger ligament. Atlanta has a 6-7 record in his absence.
Durant, who became the No. 8 scorer in NBA history on Wednesday night, hit another mark Thursday with his 2,000th 3-pointer. He's the 16th player in the league to accomplish that feat.