Game ID: 22300387
Phoenix Suns @ Sacramento Kings
Friday, December 22, 2023 at 10:00 PM ET
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAC 35 30 38 17 120PHX 30 24 30 21 105
PHX @ SAC ScoutingPHX @ 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.
SAC availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restBACK Murray back 12/02 after 4, 30 min since (89% of 34)
BACK Mitchell back 12/08 after 2, 6 min since (39% of 15)
BACK Duarte back 12/08 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 12)
SAC availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restBACK Mitchell back 12/08 after 2, 6 min since (39% of 15)
BACK Duarte back 12/08 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 12)
SAC availability going into 12/18 · 1 day's restBACK Mitchell back 12/08 after 2, 9 min since (60% of 15)
BACK Duarte back 12/08 after 2, 5 min since (40% of 12)
SAC availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's rest
full strength
SAC availability going into 12/22 · 1 day's rest
full strength
SAC availability going into 12/23 · back-to-back
full strength
SAC availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' rest
full strength
SAC availability going into 12/29 · 2 days' rest
full strength
SAC availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's rest
full strength
PHX availability going into 12/13 · back-to-backOUT Durant missed 2 since 12/08, returns tonight: 38 min (101% of 38)
OUT Allen missed 2 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Beal back 12/12 after 12, 27 min since (81% of 34)
BACK Metu back 12/08 after 2, 24 min since (201% of 12)
BACK Bol back 12/08 after 14, 3 min since (26% of 11)
NEW Gordon 28 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW Goodwin 14 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Watanabe 13 to 20 min over the last 3
PHX availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 3 since 12/08, returns tonight: 36 min (107% of 33)
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 2, 38 min since (101% of 38)
BACK Beal back 12/12 after 12, 30 min since (90% of 34)
BACK Metu back 12/08 after 2, 23 min since (190% of 12)
BACK Bol back 12/08 after 14, 3 min since (26% of 11)
NEW Gordon 28 to 35 min over the last 3
NEW Goodwin 14 to 22 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 2 since 12/13, returns tonight: 30 min (109% of 28)
OUT Okogie missed 2 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 2, 37 min since (98% of 38)
BACK Beal back 12/12 after 12, 22 min since (65% of 34)
BACK Allen back 12/15 after 3, 36 min since (107% of 33)
BACK Metu back 12/08 after 2, 20 min since (163% of 12)
BACK Bol back 12/08 after 14, 3 min since (24% of 11)
NEW Goodwin 14 to 23 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/19 · 1 day's restOUT Okogie missed 3 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 2, 36 min since (96% of 38)
BACK Beal back 12/12 after 12, 22 min since (65% of 34)
BACK Allen back 12/15 after 3, 34 min since (104% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/17 after 2, 30 min since (109% of 28)
BACK Metu back 12/08 after 2, 18 min since (146% of 12)
BACK Bol back 12/08 after 14, 3 min since (24% of 11)
NEW Goodwin 14 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/22 · 2 days' restOUT Beal missed 2 since 12/17, out tonight
OUT Okogie missed 4 since 12/13, out tonight
OUT Bates-Diop missed 2 since 12/17, out tonight
OUT Watanabe missed 2 since 12/17, returns tonight: 12 min (89% of 13)
OUT Bol missed 2 since 12/17, returns tonight: 3 min (32% of 11)
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 2, 37 min since (98% of 38)
BACK Allen back 12/15 after 3, 34 min since (102% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/17 after 2, 30 min since (106% of 28)
NEW Goodwin 14 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/25 · 2 days' restOUT Beal missed 3 since 12/17, out tonight
OUT Okogie missed 5 since 12/13, returns tonight: 12 min (79% of 16)
OUT Bates-Diop missed 3 since 12/17, out tonight
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 2, 36 min since (97% of 38)
BACK Allen back 12/15 after 3, 33 min since (99% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/17 after 2, 28 min since (100% of 28)
BACK Watanabe back 12/22 after 2, 12 min since (89% of 13)
BACK Bol back 12/22 after 2, 3 min since (32% of 11)
NEW Goodwin 14 to 21 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 4 since 12/17, out tonight
OUT Nurkić missed 2 since 12/22, returns tonight: 14 min (52% of 27)
OUT Bates-Diop missed 4 since 12/17, out tonight
BACK Allen back 12/15 after 3, 34 min since (103% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/17 after 2, 30 min since (108% of 28)
BACK Okogie back 12/25 after 5, 12 min since (79% of 16)
BACK Watanabe back 12/22 after 2, 12 min since (89% of 13)
BACK Bol back 12/22 after 2, 3 min since (32% of 11)
PHX availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 5 since 12/17, returns tonight: 30 min (89% of 34)
OUT Bates-Diop missed 5 since 12/17, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 12/17 after 2, 32 min since (115% of 28)
BACK Nurkić back 12/27 after 2, 14 min since (52% of 27)
BACK Okogie back 12/25 after 5, 11 min since (71% of 16)
BACK Watanabe back 12/22 after 2, 7 min since (50% of 13)
BACK Bol back 12/22 after 2, 2 min since (23% of 11)
NEW Metu 12 to 17 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Eubanks missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Bates-Diop missed 6 since 12/17, out tonight
BACK Beal back 12/29 after 5, 30 min since (89% of 34)
BACK Nurkić back 12/27 after 2, 21 min since (78% of 27)
BACK Okogie back 12/25 after 5, 11 min since (71% of 16)
BACK Watanabe back 12/22 after 2, 7 min since (50% of 13)
BACK Bol back 12/22 after 2, 2 min since (23% of 11)
NEW Metu 12 to 19 min over the last 5
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 123 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 28 and Murray at 23 a game. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Durant at 31 and Booker at 29 a game. Without Beal (2 straight), Okogie (4 straight), Bates-Diop (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 41 percent from three to Phoenix's 31 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-3 a night and Sacramento minus-2. Call it Sacramento 119, Phoenix 117, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/14 vs OKC 128-123 — SAC notes
SAC won 128-123. SAC shot 49% (47 of 95) to OKC's 43%, 18 of 45 from three, and got to the line 21 times to OKC's 27. Fox led with 41 (14 of 25, 5 of 11 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Sabonis added 18, Monk 18. The hinge was Q2, 30-23: SAC came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 6. Lyles was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/16 vs UTA 125-104 — SAC notes
SAC won 125-104. SAC shot 54% (46 of 85) to UTA's 44%, 22 of 45 from three, and got to the line 15 times to UTA's 21. Murray led with 47 (16 of 23, 12 of 15 from three); Sabonis added 20, Monk 18. The hinge was Q3, 44-26: a lead of 12 became 30. Sabonis was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
12/18 vs WAS 143-131 — SAC notes
SAC won 143-131. SAC shot 53% (53 of 100) to WAS's 52%, 17 of 43 from three. Fox led with 30 (10 of 19, 2 of 7 from three, 8 of 12 at the line); Sabonis added 28, Murray 25. The hinge was Q2, 39-25: SAC came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 10, and the lead reached 26. Sabonis was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
12/20 vs BOS 119-144 — SAC notes
SAC lost 119-144. SAC shot 47% (43 of 91) to BOS's 55%, 21 of 44 from three. The glass went 37-50 against them. Fox led with 29 (9 of 16, 6 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Sabonis added 13, Murray 13. Q1 was theirs, 41-38, but the other 3 periods went 106-78 against them. They led by as many as 12. Sabonis's -25 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/22 vs PHX 120-105 — SAC notes
SAC won 120-105. SAC shot 53% (44 of 83) to PHX's 44%, 12 of 38 from three. Sabonis led with 28 (12 of 15); Fox added 23, Murray 21. The hinge was Q3, 38-30: a lead of 11 became 19, and the lead reached 29. Sabonis was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
12/23 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 121, shooting 51 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 31 and Murray at 24 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 22 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and Towns at 25 a game. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 111 a night to Sacramento's 121 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-3 a night and Sacramento minus-1. Call it Minnesota 117, Sacramento 116, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/26 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Simons at 29 and Grant at 23 a game. Without Sharpe (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 27 and Murray at 25 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Sacramento 117, Portland 116, Portland keeping it close.
12/29 @ ATL — 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 122 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Young at 28 and Murray at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Hunter (3 straight), Krejčí (2 straight), Fernando (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Sabonis at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Atlanta giving it away 13 times a game to Sacramento's 9. Call it Atlanta 123, Sacramento 119, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/31 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Bane at 27 and Morant at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Jackson (6 straight), Kennard (20 straight), LaRavia (6 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Fox at 31 and Sabonis at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 14 times a game to Sacramento's 10 and the glass, where Memphis has been minus-4 a night and Sacramento minus-9. Call it Memphis 116, Sacramento 114, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/13 vs BKN 112-116 — PHX notes
PHX lost 112-116. PHX shot 48% (40 of 84) to BKN's 46%, 9 of 28 from three. PHX turned it over 12 times to BKN's 7, and BKN turned those into 9 steals. The glass went 49-36 for them. Booker led with 34 (9 of 15, 2 of 6 from three, 14 of 15 at the line); Durant added 27, Nurkić 15. Q3 was theirs, 32-22, turning a 8-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 94-80 against them. Goodwin's -19 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/15 vs NYK 122-139 — PHX notes
PHX lost 122-139. PHX took 8 more shots (90 to 82), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 52% to NYK's 60%, 11 of 28 from three, and got to the line 21 times to NYK's 28. Durant led with 29 (10 of 21, 4 of 9 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Booker added 28, Nurkić 21. Q2 was theirs, 38-32, turning a 1-point deficit into a 5-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 107-84 against them. They led by as many as 10. Booker's -18 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/17 vs WAS 112-108 — PHX notes
PHX won 112-108. PHX shot 46% (41 of 90) to WAS's 41%, 7 of 31 from three, and went to the line 30 times to WAS's 20 — 23 points from the stripe to their 16. PHX turned it over 17 times to WAS's 10, and WAS turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 54-44 for them. Durant led with 28 (11 of 24, 6 of 9 at the line); Booker added 27, Gordon 13. The hinge was Q4, 31-19: PHX came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 4. PHX trailed 46-58 at the half and won the second half 66-50. Goodwin was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
12/19 @ POR 104-109 — PHX notes
PHX lost 104-109. PHX shot 45% (42 of 94) to POR's 45%, 5 of 23 from three. Durant led with 40 (16 of 28, 1 of 3 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Booker added 26, Allen 11. Q1 was theirs, 36-20, but the other 3 periods went 89-68 against them. They led by as many as 16. Little's -12 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/22 @ SAC 105-120 — PHX notes
PHX lost 105-120. PHX shot 44% (39 of 88) to SAC's 53%, 5 of 25 from three. Durant led with 28 (9 of 14, 2 of 3 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Booker added 24, Allen 11. Q4 was theirs, 21-17, the deficit cut from 19 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 103-84 against them. Gordon's -25 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/25 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 27 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Booker at 28 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Beal (3 straight), Okogie (5 straight), Bates-Diop (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 36 and Hardaway Jr. at 19 a game. Without Irving (8 straight), Green (11 straight), Lively II (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-6 a night and Dallas minus-3 and the arc, Dallas at 34 percent from three to Phoenix's 27. Call it Phoenix 118, Dallas 116, Dallas keeping it close.
12/27 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sengun at 25 and VanVleet at 19 a game. Without Whitmore (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 28 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Booker at 25 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Beal (4 straight), Nurkić (2 straight), Bates-Diop (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 34 percent from three to Phoenix's 28. Call it Houston 117, Phoenix 113, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/29 vs CHA — 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 113 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 29 from three, 26 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Booker at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Beal (5 straight), Bates-Diop (5 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 29 from three, 20 free throws a game; Rozier at 21 and Bridges at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Ball (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-9 a night and Charlotte minus-4 and the line, where Phoenix takes 26 free throws a game to Charlotte's 20. Call it Phoenix 120, Charlotte 109, Phoenix by 11.
12/31 vs ORL — 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 117 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Booker at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Eubanks (2 straight), Bates-Diop (6 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 29 from three, 31 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 27 and Banchero at 26 a game. Without Gar. Harris (2 straight), Fultz (23 straight), Ingles (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-9 a night and Orlando minus-1 and the arc, Phoenix at 37 percent from three to Orlando's 29. Call it Phoenix 115, Orlando 114, Orlando keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Bol
CM C. Metu
DB D. Booker
DE D. Eubanks
EG E. Gordon
GA G. Allen
JG J. Goodwin
KD K. Durant
NL N. Little
SL S. Lee
UA U. Azubuike
YW Y. Watanabe
SACAV A. Vezenkov
CD C. Duarte
DF D. Fox
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
JM J. McGee
JT J. Toscano-Anderson
KE K. Edwards
KE K. Ellis
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
TL T. Lyles
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
Domantas Sabonis has triple-double, Kings beat struggling Suns 120-105
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- — Domantas Sabonis had 28 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds for his fourth triple-double of the season and the Sacramento Kings beat the short-handed Phoenix Suns 120-105 on Friday night.
“We see the work that he puts in,” Kings forward Harrison Barnes said about Sabonis. “It's a testament to his commitment.”
Sacramento has won six of eight to improve to 17-10. Kevin Durant scored 28 points for Phoenix. The Suns have lost four of five to fall to 14-14.
The Kings made their first 11 shots in the third quarter, with De’Aaron Fox capping the streak by breaking the Sacramento-era assists record assists (2,581) on Harrison Barnes' shot. Fox finished with 23 points and seven assists.
“I’ve only known him for a couple of years but to see him break a lot of records while I’m here is pretty cool,” Kings forward Keegan Murray said about Fox’s assist record.
Devin Booker had 24 points and seven assists for the Suns. Durant, Booker and coach Frank Vogel were all issued technical fouls in the first half.
Suns guard Bradley Beal (ankle), forward Josh Okogie (hip strain) and center Jusuf Nurkic (personal reasons) were all missing from the lineup. Beal has appeared in only six games this season because of injury after being dealt from the Washington Wizards in the offseason.
“Another tough third quarter,” Vogel said. “We have to be better and improve our offensive execution. ... We are not playing well enough right now.”