Game ID: 22400257
New York Knicks @ Phoenix Suns
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 28 30 35 29 122NYK 44 32 34 28 138
NYK @ PHX ScoutingNYK @ 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 11/13 · back-to-backOUT Durant missed 2 since 11/10, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 8 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 11 since 10/23, returns tonight: 6 min (46% of 12)
BACK Ighodaro back 11/10 after 4, 16 min since (92% of 17)
BACK Okogie back 11/08 after 3, 11 min since (79% of 14)
BACK Morris back 11/12 after 4, 15 min since (115% of 13)
NEW Jones 27 to 33 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 11/15 · 1 day's restOUT Durant missed 3 since 11/10, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 9 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK Ighodaro back 11/10 after 4, 15 min since (90% of 17)
BACK Okogie back 11/08 after 3, 15 min since (109% of 14)
BACK Morris back 11/12 after 4, 14 min since (109% of 13)
BACK Bol back 11/13 after 11, 6 min since (46% of 12)
NEW Jones 27 to 34 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 11/17 · 1 day's restOUT Durant missed 4 since 11/10, out tonight
OUT Beal missed 2 since 11/13, out tonight
OUT Allen missed 2 since 11/13, returns tonight: 24 min (100% of 24)
OUT Gillespie missed 10 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK Ighodaro back 11/10 after 4, 18 min since (108% of 17)
BACK Okogie back 11/08 after 3, 18 min since (130% of 14)
BACK Morris back 11/12 after 4, 16 min since (124% of 13)
BACK Bol back 11/13 after 11, 6 min since (44% of 12)
NEW Jones 27 to 33 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 11/18 · back-to-backOUT Durant missed 5 since 11/10, out tonight
OUT Beal missed 3 since 11/13, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 11 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK Allen back 11/17 after 2, 24 min since (100% of 24)
BACK Ighodaro back 11/10 after 4, 20 min since (117% of 17)
BACK Morris back 11/12 after 4, 14 min since (114% of 13)
BACK Bol back 11/13 after 11, 6 min since (44% of 12)
NEW Jones 27 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Plumlee 18 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Okogie 14 to 20 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 11/20 · 1 day's restOUT Durant missed 6 since 11/10, out tonight
OUT Beal missed 4 since 11/13, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 12 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK Allen back 11/17 after 2, 27 min since (111% of 24)
BACK Morris back 11/12 after 4, 14 min since (112% of 13)
BACK Bol back 11/13 after 11, 6 min since (45% of 12)
NEW Jones 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Ighodaro 17 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Okogie 14 to 22 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 11/26 · 5 days' restOUT Durant missed 7 since 11/10, returns tonight: 30 min (81% of 36)
OUT Beal missed 5 since 11/13, returns tonight: 27 min (85% of 32)
OUT Gillespie missed 13 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK Allen back 11/17 after 2, 25 min since (103% of 24)
BACK Bol back 11/13 after 11, 5 min since (41% of 12)
NEW Jones 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Ighodaro 17 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Okogie 14 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 11/27 · back-to-backOUT Gillespie missed 14 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/26 after 7, 30 min since (81% of 36)
BACK Beal back 11/26 after 5, 27 min since (85% of 32)
BACK Allen back 11/17 after 2, 24 min since (100% of 24)
NEW Jones 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Ighodaro 17 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Okogie 14 to 19 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 11/30 · 2 days' restOUT Gillespie missed 15 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/26 after 7, 31 min since (86% of 36)
BACK Beal back 11/26 after 5, 27 min since (85% of 32)
BACK Allen back 11/17 after 2, 25 min since (105% of 24)
NEW Jones 27 to 33 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/03 · 2 days' restOUT Gillespie missed 16 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/26 after 7, 33 min since (90% of 36)
BACK Beal back 11/26 after 5, 27 min since (85% of 32)
NEW Jones 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 11/13 · back-to-backBACK Payne back 11/12 after 4, 9 min since (65% of 14)
NYK availability going into 11/15 · 1 day's restBACK Payne back 11/12 after 4, 13 min since (94% of 14)
NYK availability going into 11/17 · 1 day's restBACK Payne back 11/12 after 4, 15 min since (108% of 14)
NYK availability going into 11/18 · back-to-backOUT McBride missed 2 since 11/15, out tonight
BACK Payne back 11/12 after 4, 15 min since (111% of 14)
NYK availability going into 11/20 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 3 since 11/15, out tonight
BACK Payne back 11/12 after 4, 17 min since (122% of 14)
NYK availability going into 11/23 · 2 days' restOUT McBride missed 4 since 11/15, out tonight
NEW Payne 14 to 20 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 11/25 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 5 since 11/15, returns tonight: 28 min (118% of 24)
NEW Payne 14 to 23 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 11/27 · 1 day's restBACK McBride back 11/25 after 5, 28 min since (118% of 24)
NEW Payne 14 to 23 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 11/29 · 1 day's restBACK McBride back 11/25 after 5, 22 min since (91% of 24)
NEW Payne 14 to 23 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 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 113, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Booker at 24 and Allen at 17 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Durant (6 straight), Beal (4 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Towns at 29 and Brunson at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without McBride (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Phoenix takes 26 free throws a game to New York's 19. Call it New York 115, Phoenix 111, Phoenix keeping it close.
11/13 @ SAC 104-127 — PHX notes
PHX lost 104-127. PHX took 19 more shots (97 to 78), fed by 19 offensive rebounds, but shot 37% to SAC's 64%, 13 of 43 from three, and went to the line 26 times to SAC's 17 — 19 points from the stripe to their 12. PHX turned it over 10 times to SAC's 17. Okogie led with 25 (10 of 15, 3 of 4 from three); Booker added 18, Jones 10. Q2 was theirs, 27-26, the deficit cut from 6 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 101-77 against them. Dunn's -29 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/15 @ OKC 83-99 — PHX notes
PHX lost 83-99. PHX shot 29% (22 of 75) to OKC's 40%, 9 of 37 from three, and went to the line 40 times to OKC's 18 — 30 points from the stripe to their 17. Okogie led with 15 (4 of 12, 1 of 4 from three, 6 of 9 at the line); Booker added 12, O'Neale 11. Q4 was theirs, 23-16, the deficit cut from 23 to 16, but the other 3 periods went 83-60 against them. Booker's -29 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/17 @ MIN 117-120 — PHX notes
PHX lost 117-120. PHX shot 54% (46 of 85) to MIN's 52%, 14 of 31 from three, and got to the line 15 times to MIN's 26. PHX turned it over 19 times to MIN's 14, and MIN turned those into 8 steals. Booker led with 44 (15 of 29, 6 of 13 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Allen added 18, Jones 13. Q1 was theirs, 31-22, but the other 3 periods went 98-86 against them. They led by as many as 16.
11/18 vs ORL 99-109 — PHX notes
PHX lost 99-109. PHX shot 42% (35 of 83) to ORL's 51%, 12 of 41 from three. Jones led with 18 (7 of 17, 4 of 11 from three); Booker added 17, Allen 17. Q4 was theirs, 31-25, the deficit cut from 16 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 84-68 against them. O'Neale's -15 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/20 vs NYK 122-138 — PHX notes
PHX lost 122-138. PHX shot 49% (45 of 92) to NYK's 58%, 19 of 50 from three. Booker led with 33 (12 of 23, 2 of 7 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); O'Neale added 17, Jones 15. Q3 was theirs, 35-34, the deficit cut from 18 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 104-87 against them. Nurkić's -21 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/26 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 119, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Booker at 25 and Allen at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Durant (7 straight), Beal (5 straight). 5 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Davis at 30 and James at 22 a game. They have lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Hayes (6 straight), Vanderbilt (10 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-0 a night and the Lakers minus-8 and the arc, the Lakers at 39 percent from three to Phoenix's 33. Call it Phoenix 115, the Lakers 114, the Lakers keeping it close.
11/27 vs BKN — 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 110 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Allen at 13 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 43 from three, 22 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 23 and Thomas at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Finney-Smith (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-2 a night and Brooklyn minus-8 and the arc, Brooklyn at 43 percent from three to Phoenix's 35. Call it Phoenix 113, Brooklyn 112, Brooklyn keeping it close.
11/30 vs GSW — 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 116 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Booker at 30 and Jones at 13 a game. 2 days' rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wiggins at 22 and Curry at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Post (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Golden State allowing 108 a night to Phoenix's 119. Call it Golden State 114, Phoenix 113, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/03 vs SAS — 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 116, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Booker at 27 and Durant at 25 a game. 2 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 28 and Barnes at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Sochan (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-1 a night and San Antonio minus-4 and the line, where San Antonio takes 26 free throws a game to Phoenix's 20. Call it Phoenix 115, San Antonio 113, San Antonio keeping it close.
11/13 vs CHI 123-124 — NYK notes
NYK lost 123-124. NYK took 12 more shots (94 to 82), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 51% to CHI's 54%, 15 of 37 from three, and got to the line 18 times to CHI's 27. Towns led with 46 (18 of 30, 6 of 12 from three, 4 of 8 at the line); Brunson added 24, Bridges 20. Q3 was theirs, 38-31, the deficit cut from 12 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 93-85 against them.
11/15 vs BKN 124-122 — NYK notes
NYK won 124-122. NYK shot 53% (44 of 83) to BKN's 44%, 13 of 38 from three. Brunson led with 37 (12 of 20, 3 of 8 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Anunoby added 25, Bridges 22. The hinge was Q3, 32-23: a lead of 9 became 18, and the lead reached 21.
11/17 vs BKN 114-104 — NYK notes
NYK won 114-104. NYK shot 49% (43 of 88) to BKN's 42%, 13 of 40 from three, and got to the line 19 times to BKN's 30. The glass went 47-35 for them. Towns led with 26 (10 of 16, 1 of 3 from three); Anunoby added 24, Bridges 21. The hinge was Q3, 35-24: a lead of 3 became 14. Bridges was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
11/18 vs WAS 134-106 — NYK notes
NYK won 134-106. NYK shot 56% (51 of 91) to WAS's 47%, 20 of 40 from three. Brunson led with 26 (9 of 15, 5 of 9 from three); Towns added 24, Payne 17. The hinge was Q3, 36-21: a lead of 19 became 34. Bridges was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
11/20 @ PHX 138-122 — NYK notes
NYK won 138-122. NYK shot 58% (50 of 86) to PHX's 49%, 19 of 39 from three. Brunson led with 36 (12 of 21, 7 of 11 from three); Towns added 34, Hart 19. The hinge was Q1, 44-28: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Towns was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
11/23 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Markkanen at 22 and Clarkson at 19 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Kessler (6 straight), Hendricks (12 straight), Mykhailiuk (3 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 116, shooting 53 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Towns at 32 and Brunson at 27 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without McBride (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 41 percent from three to Utah's 34 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 15 times a game to New York's 11. Call it New York 120, Utah 114.
11/25 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 20 and Murray at 17 a game. Without Gordon (8 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and Towns at 25 a game. Without McBride (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-3 a night and Denver minus-2 and the turnovers, Denver giving it away 14 times a game to New York's 10. Call it Denver 116, New York 115, New York keeping it close.
11/27 @ 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 125 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 27 free throws a game; Irving at 24 and Marshall at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Dončić (3 straight), Edwards (9 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 114, shooting 52 percent and 43 from three, 16 free throws a game; Towns at 26 and Anunoby at 24 a game. One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the line, where Dallas takes 27 free throws a game to New York's 16 and the glass, where Dallas has been plus-10 a night and New York plus-3. Call it Dallas 118, New York 117, New York keeping it close.
11/29 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Ball at 35 and Miller at 28 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Bridges (4 straight), Gra. Williams (2 straight), Mann (3 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 119, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 29 and Towns at 26 a game. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Charlotte giving it away 17 times a game to New York's 9 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 111 a night to New York's 119. Call it New York 117, Charlotte 113, Charlotte keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NYKCP C. Payne
JB J. Brunson
JH J. Hart
JS J. Sims
KT K. Towns
MB M. Bridges
OA O. Anunoby
PD P. Dadiet
TK T. Kolek
PHXBB B. Bol
DB D. Booker
DL D. Lee
GA G. Allen
JN J. Nurkić
JO J. Okogie
MM M. Morris
OI O. Ighodaro
RD R. Dunn
RO R. O'Neale
TJ T. Jones
TW T. Washington Jr.
NYK/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
Brunson scores 36, Towns adds 34 as Knicks beat Suns 138-122 for 4th straight win
PHOENIX -- — Jalen Brunson scored 36 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 34 and the New York Knicks beat the Phoenix Suns 138-122 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight win.
All five Knicks starters scored in double figures. Josh Hart had 19 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
Devin Booker scored 33 points on 12-for-23 shooting and Jusuf Nurkic had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the injury-depleted Suns, who have lost five straight.
New York never trailed, hitting its first eight shots, including four 3-pointers. The Knicks carried that momentum to a 44-28 advantage after one quarter and a 76-58 lead at halftime. Brunson had 23 points before the break on 8-for-9 shooting, including hitting all four 3s.
The Suns cut the deficit to 88-77 midway through the third quarter, but the Knicks responded with an 11-2 run.
Phoenix star Kevin Durant missed his seventh straight game with a left calf strain. Teammate and three-time All-Star Bradley Beal was out for the fifth straight game, also because of a strained left calf.
Takeaways Knicks: New York's starting to look like the team many envisioned when they traded for Towns — a four-time All-Star — before the season. The starting lineup is deep with scoring options and makes it tough for the opposing defense.
Suns: It's been a tough slog of late for Phoenix and the struggles can't totally be blamed on injuries. They came out flat against the Knicks, particularly on defense, giving up easy transition buckets and good looks from 3-point range.
Key moment Brunson splashed home a 3-pointer on the first possession of the game — a harbinger of things to come.
Key stat The Knicks shot 18 for 23 (78.3%) in the first quarter, including 8 for 11 (72.7%) from 3-point range.
Up next Knicks travel to Utah on Saturday, and Suns host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.