Game ID: 22300705
Phoenix Suns @ Washington Wizards
Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 3:30 PM ET
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
WAS 28 30 28 26 112PHX 42 37 37 24 140
PHX @ WAS ScoutingPHX @ WAS 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.
WAS availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Butler missed 9 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Gafford back 1/21 after 2, 28 min since (104% of 26)
BACK Davis back 1/25 after 4, 1 min since (7% of 12)
WAS availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Butler missed 10 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Gafford back 1/21 after 2, 28 min since (104% of 26)
BACK Davis back 1/25 after 4, 1 min since (7% of 12)
WAS availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Butler missed 11 since 1/08, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 2 since 1/27, returns tonight: 12 min (95% of 13)
OUT Davis missed 2 since 1/27, returns tonight: 12 min (98% of 12)
BACK Gafford back 1/21 after 2, 28 min since (104% of 26)
WAS availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Butler missed 12 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 1/31 after 2, 12 min since (95% of 13)
BACK Davis back 1/25 after 4, 6 min since (52% of 12)
WAS availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Butler missed 13 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 1/31 after 2, 12 min since (95% of 13)
BACK Davis back 1/25 after 4, 5 min since (40% of 12)
WAS availability going into 2/07 · 2 days' restOUT Bagley III missed 2 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Butler missed 14 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 1/31 after 2, 10 min since (74% of 13)
BACK Davis back 1/31 after 2, 11 min since (86% of 12)
WAS availability going into 2/09 · 1 day's restOUT Bagley III missed 3 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Butler missed 15 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 1/31 after 2, 10 min since (74% of 13)
BACK Davis back 1/31 after 2, 11 min since (86% of 12)
WAS availability going into 2/10 · back-to-backOUT Bagley III missed 4 since 2/02, returns tonight: 15 min (62% of 24)
OUT Butler missed 16 since 1/08, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
WAS availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Butler missed 17 since 1/08, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Bagley III back 2/10 after 4, 15 min since (62% of 24)
PHX availability going into 1/28 · 1 day's restOUT Bol missed 7 since 1/14, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/26 after 2, 30 min since (109% of 28)
BACK Goodwin back 1/19 after 2, 4 min since (29% of 14)
BACK Watanabe back 1/24 after 5, 7 min since (55% of 13)
PHX availability going into 1/29 · back-to-backOUT Watanabe missed 2 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 8 since 1/14, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/26 after 2, 26 min since (94% of 28)
BACK Goodwin back 1/24 after 2, 3 min since (22% of 14)
PHX availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Watanabe missed 3 since 1/26, returns tonight: 1 min (10% of 13)
OUT Bol missed 9 since 1/14, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/26 after 2, 29 min since (102% of 28)
BACK Goodwin back 1/24 after 2, 3 min since (22% of 14)
PHX availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Bol missed 10 since 1/14, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/26 after 2, 29 min since (105% of 28)
BACK Goodwin back 1/24 after 2, 2 min since (18% of 14)
BACK Watanabe back 1/24 after 5, 4 min since (33% of 13)
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)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 29 from three, 20 free throws a game; Kuzma at 23 and Poole at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 120, shooting 55 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Booker at 35 and Durant at 25 a game. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 40 percent from three to Washington's 29 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-0 a night and Washington minus-5. Call it Phoenix 118, Washington 116, Washington keeping it close.
1/27 @ DET 118-104 — WAS notes
WAS won 118-104. WAS shot 45% (45 of 100) to DET's 44%, 11 of 34 from three, and got to the line 21 times to DET's 27. WAS turned it over 9 times to DET's 17. Kuzma led with 30 (13 of 27, 3 of 13 from three); Poole added 17, Gafford 15. The hinge was Q4, 31-19: a lead of 2 became 14. WAS trailed 61-63 at the half and won the second half 57-41. Poole was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
1/29 @ SAS 118-113 — WAS notes
WAS won 118-113. WAS shot 53% (46 of 86) to SAS's 47%, 9 of 25 from three, and went to the line 24 times to SAS's 17 — 17 points from the stripe to their 15. Kuzma led with 18 (7 of 18, 0 of 4 from three); Gafford added 16, T. Jones 15. The hinge was Q4, 31-20: WAS came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 5. WAS trailed 54-58 at the half and won the second half 64-55. Coulibaly was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
1/31 vs LAC 109-125 — WAS notes
WAS lost 109-125. WAS shot 46% (45 of 97) to LAC's 47%, 9 of 29 from three, and got to the line 15 times to LAC's 22. WAS turned it over 13 times to LAC's 8, and LAC turned those into 9 steals. Kuzma led with 27 (11 of 22, 2 of 4 from three); Coulibaly added 19, Kispert 16. Q4 was theirs, 30-19, the deficit cut from 27 to 16, but the other 3 periods went 106-79 against them. Avdija's -33 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/02 vs MIA 102-110 — WAS notes
WAS lost 102-110. WAS shot 41% (37 of 90) to MIA's 43%, 11 of 42 from three, and got to the line 21 times to MIA's 35. The glass went 43-59 against them. Kispert led with 26 (10 of 18, 6 of 14 from three); Poole added 16, Avdija 15. Q4 was theirs, 28-23, the deficit cut from 13 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 87-74 against them. They led by as many as 11. Coulibaly's -19 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/04 vs PHX 112-140 — WAS notes
WAS lost 112-140. WAS took 8 more shots (96 to 88), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 49% to PHX's 61%, 7 of 32 from three, and got to the line 17 times to PHX's 26. Avdija led with 24 (10 of 13, 3 of 5 from three); Omoruyi added 16, Kispert 15. Q4 was theirs, 26-24, the deficit cut from 30 to 28, but the other 3 periods went 116-86 against them. Coulibaly's -25 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/07 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 29 from three, 20 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Kispert at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Bagley III (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 108, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 32 and Allen at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 38 percent from three to Washington's 29 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 108 a night to Washington's 118. Call it Cleveland 119, Washington 112.
2/09 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Porziņģis at 23 a game. One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 17 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Kispert at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Bagley III (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 37 percent from three to Washington's 31 and the defense, Boston allowing 112 a night to Washington's 120. Call it Boston 123, Washington 110, Boston by 13.
2/10 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 124, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 17 free throws a game; Kuzma at 21 and Kispert at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Bagley III (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 126, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Maxey at 25 and Harris at 20 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Embiid (5 straight), Melton (14 straight), Batum (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Philadelphia wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Philadelphia has been minus-2 a night and Washington minus-8 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 13 times a game to Philadelphia's 9. Call it Philadelphia 119, Washington 118, Washington keeping it close.
2/12 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 33 and Irving at 25 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Lively II (6 straight), Exum (8 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Kuzma at 20 and Avdija at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-2 a night and Washington minus-8 and the defense, Dallas allowing 111 a night to Washington's 123. Call it Dallas 124, Washington 113, Dallas by 11.
1/28 @ ORL 98-113 — PHX notes
PHX lost 98-113. PHX shot 56% (41 of 73) to ORL's 45%, 4 of 14 from three. PHX turned it over 22 times to ORL's 7, and ORL turned those into 12 steals. Booker led with 44 (17 of 26, 9 of 11 at the line); Durant added 15. Q1 was theirs, 37-26, but the other 3 periods went 87-61 against them. They led by as many as 13. Durant's -25 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/29 @ MIA 118-105 — PHX notes
PHX won 118-105. PHX shot 49% (46 of 94) to MIA's 39%, 14 of 40 from three, and got to the line 17 times to MIA's 25. Gordon led with 23 (8 of 17, 5 of 12 from three); Booker added 22, Durant 20. The hinge was Q3, 38-25: a lead of 13 became 26. Eubanks was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
1/31 @ BKN 136-120 — PHX notes
PHX won 136-120. PHX shot 62% (49 of 79) to BKN's 50%, 14 of 28 from three, and went to the line 32 times to BKN's 13 — 24 points from the stripe to their 10. The glass went 42-27 for them. Durant led with 33 (10 of 16, 2 of 6 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Nurkić added 28, Booker 22. The hinge was Q3, 42-26: a lead of 3 became 19. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
2/02 @ ATL 120-129 — PHX notes
PHX lost 120-129. PHX shot 53% (47 of 88) to ATL's 52%, 14 of 37 from three. PHX turned it over 16 times to ATL's 9. Durant led with 35 (14 of 24, 5 of 9 from three); Booker added 24, Beal 14. Q2 was theirs, 33-33, but the other 3 periods went 96-87 against them.
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 — 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 122 a night and allowing 116, shooting 56 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Booker at 25 and Durant at 24 a game. One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 33 and Lillard at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Lopez (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-4 a night and Milwaukee minus-6 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 15 times a game to Milwaukee's 11. Call it Phoenix 121, Milwaukee 117, Milwaukee keeping it close.
2/08 vs UTA — 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 126 a night and allowing 114, shooting 55 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Booker at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Markkanen at 22 and Sexton at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Hendricks (12 straight), Horton-Tucker (4 straight), Juzang (26 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 114 a night to Utah's 123. Call it Phoenix 123, Utah 115.
2/10 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Curry at 32 and Kuminga at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Paul (14 straight), Payton II (16 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 116, shooting 57 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Beal at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-12 a night and Phoenix plus-1 and the arc, Phoenix at 41 percent from three to Golden State's 37. Call it Golden State 120, Phoenix 117, Phoenix keeping it close.
2/13 vs SAC — 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.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Beal
BB B. Bol
CM C. Metu
DB D. Booker
DE D. Eubanks
EG E. Gordon
GA G. Allen
JG J. Goodwin
JN J. Nurkić
JO J. Okogie
KB K. Bates-Diop
KD K. Durant
NL N. Little
NU Nurkic
YW Y. Watanabe
WASAG A. Gill
BC B. Coulibaly
CK C. Kispert
DA D. Avdija
DG D. Gafford
DW D. Wright
EO E. Omoruyi
JB J. Bernard
JD J. Davis
JP J. Poole
LS L. Shamet
PB P. Baldwin Jr.
TJ T. Jones
PHX/WAS 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
Bradley Beal scores 43 points in return to Washington as Suns roll past Wizards, 140-112
WASHINGTON -- — Bradley Beal scored a season-high 43 points in his return to Washington and the Phoenix Suns routed the Wizards 140-112 on Sunday.
Beal played 11 seasons in Washington before being dealt to Phoenix last offseason. He received a video tribute and standing ovation during player introductions before the game. Then he scored 26 points in the first half.
“I guess I know this gym a little bit,” Beal said.
He had 41 after three quarters and then exited for good with 8:44 to play.
Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkic scored 18 points apiece for Phoenix, and Devin Booker had 14. The Suns went 4-3 on a seven-game trip.
Deni Avdija had 24 points for the Wizards. They were without Kyle Kuzma because of left shoulder soreness.
Beal scored 14 of Phoenix's 42 first-quarter points, but the Wizards kept it competitive for a little while. They trailed by 11 in the second before an 11-2 run by the Suns made it 74-54.
“We took a little bit of a step back today, and that starts with me,” Wizards interim coach Brian Keefe said. “We didn't have the right mindset.”
It was 79-58 at halftime, with the Suns having shot 69% from the field. They finished the game at 61.4%, with Beal going 16 of 21.
Beal's layup early in the third quarter prompted a quick timeout by Washington, just 54 seconds into the half. The lead reached 32 early in the fourth.
The Suns rebounded from a 129-120 loss to Atlanta two days earlier.
“We had a great disposition because of how we played against Atlanta. None of us were happy with how that game went,” coach Frank Vogel said. “Our guys came in and wanted to get this last game of the trip, also wanted to get it for Brad. I thought all of his teammates rallied around his homecoming.”
Although Washington could do nothing to slow down the Suns until their stars left the game, the Wizards did shoot 49.5% themselves. But they were only 7 of 32 from 3-point range.
Daniel Gafford scored 15 points on 7-for-7 shooting for the Wizards.
Beal played 31:01 and was the only person to reach 28 minutes for either team. Thirteen players scored for Phoenix.
“I thought we played the game with an edge that was lacking in Atlanta,” Vogel said. “When you're getting stops and you're playing in the open court, we can be really dynamic offensively.”
Nurkic had 13 rebounds and eight assists, and Beal had six assists in addition to all his scoring.
Eugene Omoruyi had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards.