Game ID: 22400645
Washington Wizards @ Phoenix Suns
Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 9:00 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 35 33 28 23 119WAS 24 29 32 24 109
PHX vs WAS ScoutingPHX vs 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.
PHX availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 4 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 36 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Okogie missed 2 since 1/12, not on tonight's roster
OUT Morris missed 2 since 1/12, returns tonight: 15 min (120% of 13)
OUT Bol missed 6 since 1/06, returns tonight: 4 min (36% of 12)
BACK O'Neale back 1/12 after 6, 19 min since (78% of 24)
PHX availability going into 1/18 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 5 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 37 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK O'Neale back 1/12 after 6, 20 min since (81% of 24)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 15 min since (120% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 4 min since (36% of 12)
NEW Ighodaro 17 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 2 since 1/16, returns tonight: 25 min (77% of 32)
OUT Nurkić missed 6 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 38 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK O'Neale back 1/12 after 6, 19 min since (77% of 24)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 11 min since (86% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 4 min since (36% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 26 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 7 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 39 since 10/28, returns tonight: 3 min (21% of 14)
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 25 min since (77% of 32)
BACK O'Neale back 1/12 after 6, 20 min since (80% of 24)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 10 min since (77% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 6 min since (48% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 26 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/25 · 2 days' restOUT Nurkić missed 8 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 25 min since (77% of 32)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 3 min since (21% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 12 min since (94% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 6 min since (44% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 9 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 32 min since (99% of 32)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 3 min since (21% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 12 min since (94% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 6 min since (44% of 12)
PHX availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 10 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Ighodaro missed 2 since 1/25, returns tonight: 0 min (2% of 17)
OUT Gillespie missed 2 since 1/25, returns tonight: 0 min (2% of 14)
OUT Morris missed 2 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 2 since 1/25, out tonight
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 32 min since (101% of 32)
PHX availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 11 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 3 since 1/25, returns tonight: 5 min (38% of 13)
OUT Bol missed 3 since 1/25, returns tonight: 5 min (38% of 12)
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 30 min since (95% of 32)
BACK Ighodaro back 1/29 after 2, 0 min since (2% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 2 min since (12% of 14)
PHX availability going into 2/01 · back-to-backOUT Nurkić missed 12 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Ighodaro back 1/29 after 2, 3 min since (15% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 2 min since (18% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 12)
WAS availability going into 1/18 · 1 day's restOUT Brogdon missed 6 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 3 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Vukcevic missed 8 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Poole back 1/10 after 3, 27 min since (91% of 29)
WAS availability going into 1/19 · back-to-backOUT Brogdon missed 7 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 4 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Vukcevic missed 9 since 1/03, returns tonight: 3 min (23% of 15)
BACK Poole back 1/10 after 3, 29 min since (97% of 29)
WAS availability going into 1/21 · 1 day's restOUT Brogdon missed 8 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 5 since 1/12, out tonight
BACK Vukcevic back 1/19 after 9, 3 min since (23% of 15)
WAS availability going into 1/23 · 1 day's restOUT Brogdon missed 9 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 6 since 1/12, out tonight
BACK Vukcevic back 1/19 after 9, 2 min since (17% of 15)
WAS availability going into 1/25 · 1 day's restOUT Brogdon missed 10 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 7 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Butler missed 2 since 1/21, out tonight
BACK Vukcevic back 1/19 after 9, 2 min since (15% of 15)
WAS availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Brogdon missed 11 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 8 since 1/12, returns tonight: 10 min (58% of 17)
OUT Butler missed 3 since 1/21, out tonight
BACK Vukcevic back 1/19 after 9, 2 min since (15% of 15)
WAS availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Brogdon missed 12 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Butler missed 4 since 1/21, out tonight
BACK Holmes back 1/27 after 8, 10 min since (58% of 17)
BACK Vukcevic back 1/19 after 9, 4 min since (25% of 15)
WAS availability going into 1/30 · back-to-backOUT Brogdon missed 13 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Butler missed 5 since 1/21, returns tonight: 17 min (154% of 11)
BACK Holmes back 1/27 after 8, 13 min since (77% of 17)
WAS availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Sarr missed 2 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Brogdon missed 14 since 1/07, returns tonight: 21 min (90% of 24)
BACK Holmes back 1/27 after 8, 14 min since (80% of 17)
BACK Butler back 1/30 after 5, 17 min since (154% of 11)
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 114 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Booker at 31 and Durant at 27 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Nurkić (8 straight). 2 days' rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 119, shooting 40 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; Poole at 21 and Coulibaly at 12 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Brogdon (10 straight), Holmes (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 38 percent from three to Washington's 31. Call it Phoenix 118, Washington 109.
1/16 @ WAS 130-123 — PHX notes
PHX won 130-123. PHX shot 52% (44 of 85) to WAS's 50%, 16 of 33 from three. Booker led with 37 (10 of 24, 4 of 9 from three, 13 of 15 at the line); Durant added 23, Allen 21. The hinge was Q1, 34-21: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
1/18 @ DET 125-121 — PHX notes
PHX won 125-121. PHX shot 50% (43 of 86) to DET's 47%, 7 of 25 from three. Durant led with 36 (13 of 27, 2 of 8 from three, 8 of 12 at the line); Booker added 35, Richards 21. The hinge was Q3, 37-35: a lead of 1 became 3. Richards was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/20 @ CLE 92-118 — PHX notes
PHX lost 92-118. PHX shot 47% (36 of 77) to CLE's 43%, 10 of 26 from three, and got to the line 13 times to CLE's 23. PHX turned it over 17 times to CLE's 8, and CLE turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 34-50 against them. Durant led with 23 (9 of 16); Booker added 15, Jones 13. Q1 was theirs, 27-27, but the other 3 periods went 91-65 against them. Richards's -26 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/22 @ BKN 108-84 — PHX notes
PHX won 108-84. PHX shot 48% (42 of 88) to BKN's 37%, 14 of 41 from three. PHX turned it over 11 times to BKN's 16. Booker led with 32 (14 of 24, 3 of 8 from three); Durant added 24. The hinge was Q1, 28-16: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 28. O'Neale was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
1/25 vs WAS 119-109 — PHX notes
PHX won 119-109. PHX shot 44% (40 of 90) to WAS's 47%, 13 of 40 from three, and went to the line 28 times to WAS's 9 — 26 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 53-37 for them. Durant led with 29 (11 of 19, 5 of 8 from three); Beal added 20, Richards 20. The hinge was Q1, 35-24: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
1/27 vs LAC — 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 115 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Booker at 27 and Durant at 27 a game. Without Nurkić (9 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 18 free throws a game; Powell at 26 and Harden at 24 a game. Without Dunn (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the line, where Phoenix takes 25 free throws a game to the Clippers' 18 and the arc, Phoenix at 36 percent from three to the Clippers' 31. Call it Phoenix 112, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
1/29 vs MIN — 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 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Booker at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Nurkić (10 straight), Ighodaro (2 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Reid at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without DiVincenzo (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Phoenix 112, Minnesota 111, Minnesota keeping it close.
1/31 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wiggins at 22 and Curry at 17 a game. Without Green (6 straight), Kuminga (13 straight), Waters III (2 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Booker at 24 a game. Without Nurkić (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Golden State 114, Phoenix 110, Phoenix keeping it close.
2/01 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 99, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 29 free throws a game; Avdija at 20 and Simons at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Thybulle (48 straight), Williams III (2 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; Booker at 27 and Durant at 26 a game. Without Nurkić (12 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Portland takes 29 free throws a game to Phoenix's 18 and the defense, Portland allowing 99 a night to Phoenix's 106. Call it Portland 112, Phoenix 108, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/18 @ GSW 114-122 — WAS notes
WAS lost 114-122. WAS shot 44% (38 of 86) to GSW's 47%, 22 of 45 from three. The glass went 44-55 against them. Poole led with 38 (12 of 25, 8 of 15 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Kuzma added 22, Carrington 17. Q1 was theirs, 29-25, but the other 3 periods went 97-85 against them. They led by as many as 10. Kuzma's -17 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/19 @ SAC 100-123 — WAS notes
WAS lost 100-123. WAS shot 36% (32 of 89) to SAC's 48%, 10 of 42 from three, and went to the line 32 times to SAC's 24 — 26 points from the stripe to their 19. WAS turned it over 16 times to SAC's 11, and SAC turned those into 12 steals. Valančiūnas led with 23 (9 of 11, 5 of 6 at the line); Kispert added 14, Kuzma 13. Q3 was theirs, 29-28, the deficit cut from 14 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 95-71 against them. Coulibaly's -16 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/21 @ LAL 88-111 — WAS notes
WAS lost 88-111. WAS shot 36% (34 of 95) to LAL's 48%, 11 of 43 from three. Coulibaly led with 17 (7 of 15, 1 of 5 from three); Poole added 15, Kispert 15. Q3 was theirs, 28-30, but the other 3 periods went 81-60 against them. Kuzma's -18 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/23 @ LAC 93-110 — WAS notes
WAS lost 93-110. WAS shot 34% (32 of 94) to LAC's 45%, 11 of 46 from three. Poole led with 24 (6 of 19, 4 of 12 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Coulibaly added 15, Sarr 14. Q3 was theirs, 31-26, the deficit cut from 22 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 84-62 against them. Kuzma's -25 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/25 @ PHX 109-119 — WAS notes
WAS lost 109-119. WAS shot 47% (42 of 90) to PHX's 44%, 18 of 41 from three, and got to the line 9 times to PHX's 28. The glass went 37-53 against them. Kuzma led with 30 (12 of 24, 5 of 9 from three); Poole added 19, Valančiūnas 16. Q3 was theirs, 32-28, the deficit cut from 15 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 91-77 against them. Coulibaly's -14 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/27 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Irving at 28 and Washington at 20 a game. Without Marshall (3 straight), Lively II (6 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 117, shooting 39 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Poole at 21 and Kuzma at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Brogdon (11 straight), Holmes (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-1 a night and Washington minus-8 and the line, where Dallas takes 26 free throws a game to Washington's 20. Call it Dallas 117, Washington 107, Dallas by 10.
1/29 vs TOR — 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 100 a night and allowing 119, shooting 39 percent and 29 from three, 18 free throws a game; Poole at 17 and Coulibaly at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Brogdon (12 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Barnes at 19 and Barrett at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Quickley (7 straight), Mogbo (4 straight), Lawson (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Toronto wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Toronto has been plus-2 a night and Washington minus-7 and the defense, Toronto allowing 108 a night to Washington's 119. Call it Toronto 116, Washington 109.
1/30 vs LAL — 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 96 a night and allowing 115, shooting 39 percent and 28 from three, 18 free throws a game; Poole at 15 and Kuzma at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Brogdon (13 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 103, shooting 50 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Davis at 27 and James at 24 a game. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Vincent (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-6 a night and Washington minus-5 and the defense, the Lakers allowing 103 a night to Washington's 115. Call it the Lakers 115, Washington 105, the Lakers by 10.
2/01 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 107, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Randle at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without DiVincenzo (8 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 120, shooting 39 percent and 28 from three, 22 free throws a game; Poole at 16 and Kuzma at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Sarr (2 straight), Brogdon (14 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 43 percent from three to Washington's 28 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-5 a night and Washington minus-6. Call it Minnesota 120, Washington 104, Minnesota by 16.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Beal
DB D. Booker
GA G. Allen
KD K. Durant
MP M. Plumlee
NR N. Richards
RD R. Dunn
RO R. O'Neale
TJ T. Jones
WASAS A. Sarr
BC B. Carrington
BC B. Coulibaly
CK C. Kispert
JC J. Champagnie
JP J. Poole
JV J. Valančiūnas
KG K. George
KK K. Kuzma
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
Durant scores 29 points as the Suns hand the Wizards their 13th straight loss, 119-109
PHOENIX -- — Kevin Durant scored 29 points, Nick Richards added 20 points along with a career-high 19 rebounds and the Phoenix Suns held off the Washington Wizards 119-109 on Saturday night.
The Suns have won eight of 11. Bradley Beal scored 20 points and Devin Booker added 18 despite missing all eight of his 3-point attempts.
The Wizards are an NBA-worst 6-38. Their last victory came on Jan. 1. Kyle Kuzma scored a season-high 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Jordan Poole added 19 points.
Phoenix led 111-98 with about four minutes remaining, but Washington cut it to 113-109 when Kuzma banked in a 3-pointer with 1:57 left. Richards responded with two free throws on the next possession to turn back the threat.
Grayson Allen made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Suns a 68-53 halftime lead. Richards — recently acquired in a trade with Charlotte — had 15 rebounds in the half.
Takeaways Wizards: Washington's losing streak is approaching a month. The Wizards are obviously athletic and had a few spectacular dunks, but there's not much consistency on either end of the court.
Suns: There's a lot uncertainty about the team's roster ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline, but despite the turmoil, the Suns are playing some decent basketball. Richards has been a great addition through four games. Rookie Ryan Dunn left early in the first quarter and didn't return because of a sprained left ankle.
Key moment The Wizards cut the Suns' lead to 87-83 in the third quarter, but Durant responded with three straight baskets, including a 3-pointer.
Key stat The Suns went on a 17-2 run midway through the first quarter to take a 14-point lead. They wouldn't trail again.
Up next Both teams are back in action Monday night. The Wizards are at Dallas, and the Suns host the Los Angeles Clippers.