Game ID: 22400795
Phoenix Suns @ San Antonio Spurs
Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 9:30 PM ET
Moody Center, Austin, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAS 31 29 34 26 120PHX 21 33 25 30 109
PHX @ SAS ScoutingPHX @ SAS 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.
SAS availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's restBACK Bassey back 2/01 after 2, 17 min since (162% of 10)
SAS availability going into 2/08 · back-to-backOUT Wesley missed 2 since 2/05, out tonight
OUT Mamukelashvili missed 2 since 2/05, out tonight
OUT Bassey missed 2 since 2/05, out tonight
SAS availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Wesley missed 3 since 2/05, out tonight
OUT Mamukelashvili missed 3 since 2/05, returns tonight: 7 min (63% of 11)
OUT Bassey missed 3 since 2/05, out tonight
SAS availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Wesley missed 4 since 2/05, returns tonight: 0 min (3% of 12)
OUT Bassey missed 4 since 2/05, out tonight
BACK Mamukelashvili back 2/10 after 3, 7 min since (63% of 11)
SAS availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Bassey missed 5 since 2/05, out tonight
BACK Wesley back 2/12 after 4, 0 min since (3% of 12)
BACK Mamukelashvili back 2/10 after 3, 4 min since (33% of 11)
SAS availability going into 2/21 · back-to-backOUT Bassey missed 6 since 2/05, returns tonight: 11 min (106% of 10)
BACK Wesley back 2/12 after 4, 0 min since (3% of 12)
BACK Mamukelashvili back 2/10 after 3, 4 min since (33% of 11)
SAS availability going into 2/23 · 1 day's restBACK Wesley back 2/12 after 4, 2 min since (16% of 12)
BACK Mamukelashvili back 2/10 after 3, 10 min since (88% of 11)
BACK Bassey back 2/21 after 6, 11 min since (106% of 10)
SAS availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restBACK Wesley back 2/12 after 4, 2 min since (15% of 12)
BACK Mamukelashvili back 2/10 after 3, 9 min since (82% of 11)
BACK Bassey back 2/21 after 6, 8 min since (81% of 10)
SAS availability going into 2/26 · back-to-backBACK Wesley back 2/12 after 4, 2 min since (15% of 12)
BACK Bassey back 2/21 after 6, 8 min since (81% of 10)
PHX availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 15 since 1/09, not on tonight's roster
OUT Morris missed 2 since 2/03, returns tonight: 15 min (116% of 13)
BACK Ighodaro back 1/29 after 2, 5 min since (27% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 1/29 after 2, 4 min since (31% of 14)
BACK Bol back 1/31 after 3, 6 min since (48% of 12)
PHX availability going into 2/08 · back-to-backOUT Durant missed 2 since 2/05, out tonight
BACK Morris back 1/31 after 3, 8 min since (64% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/31 after 3, 11 min since (84% of 12)
NEW Allen 24 to 29 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 2/11 · 2 days' restOUT Durant missed 3 since 2/05, returns tonight: 43 min (117% of 36)
OUT Beal missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Morris back 2/07 after 2, 14 min since (113% of 13)
NEW Allen 24 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Bol 12 to 18 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 2/12 · back-to-backOUT Beal missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Durant back 2/11 after 3, 43 min since (117% of 36)
BACK Morris back 2/07 after 2, 14 min since (113% of 13)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Allen 24 to 30 min over the last 4
NEW Bol 12 to 24 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Beal missed 4 since 2/07, returns tonight: 33 min (102% of 32)
OUT Ighodaro missed 2 since 2/11, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 2 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Durant back 2/11 after 3, 42 min since (116% of 36)
NEW Jones 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW O'Neale 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Bol 12 to 26 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restOUT Ighodaro missed 3 since 2/11, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 3 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Durant back 2/11 after 3, 41 min since (113% of 36)
BACK Beal back 2/20 after 4, 33 min since (102% of 32)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Allen 24 to 29 min over the last 3
NEW Bol 12 to 26 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backOUT Ighodaro missed 4 since 2/11, returns tonight: 1 min (7% of 17)
OUT Gillespie missed 2 since 2/20, returns tonight: 1 min (9% of 14)
OUT Morris missed 4 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Durant back 2/11 after 3, 41 min since (111% of 36)
BACK Beal back 2/20 after 4, 35 min since (110% of 32)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Bol 12 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Morris missed 5 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Durant back 2/11 after 3, 40 min since (111% of 36)
BACK Beal back 2/20 after 4, 37 min since (117% of 32)
BACK Ighodaro back 2/23 after 4, 1 min since (7% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 2/23 after 2, 1 min since (9% of 14)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Bol 12 to 19 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Morris missed 6 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 2/20 after 4, 39 min since (121% of 32)
BACK Ighodaro back 2/23 after 4, 1 min since (7% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 2/23 after 2, 1 min since (9% of 14)
NEW Bol 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.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Fox at 22 and Wembanyama at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. 7 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 125, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Booker at 27 and Bol at 13 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Beal (4 straight), Ighodaro (2 straight). 7 days' rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 118 a night to Phoenix's 125. Call it San Antonio 119, Phoenix 114.
2/07 @ CHA 116-117 — SAS notes
SAS lost 116-117. SAS shot 46% (42 of 92) to CHA's 47%, 12 of 39 from three, and went to the line 24 times to CHA's 6 — 20 points from the stripe to their 6. The glass went 38-53 against them. Castle led with 33 (10 of 15, 3 of 5 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Fox added 22, Wembanyama 16. Q4 was theirs, 35-25, the deficit cut from 11 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 92-81 against them.
2/08 @ ORL 111-112 — SAS notes
SAS lost 111-112. SAS shot 53% (41 of 77) to ORL's 51%, 13 of 30 from three. The glass went 34-45 against them. Vassell led with 25 (11 of 14, 3 of 4 from three); Barnes added 21, Wembanyama 18. Q2 was theirs, 30-25, turning a 2-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 87-81 against them. They led by as many as 13.
2/10 @ WAS 131-121 — SAS notes
SAS won 131-121. SAS shot 51% (45 of 88) to WAS's 48%, 17 of 38 from three, and went to the line 29 times to WAS's 19 — 24 points from the stripe to their 17. Wembanyama led with 31 (12 of 21, 5 of 8 from three); Fox added 30, Castle 16. The hinge was Q1, 40-30: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/12 @ BOS 103-116 — SAS notes
SAS lost 103-116. SAS shot 44% (42 of 96) to BOS's 46%, 9 of 39 from three, and got to the line 12 times to BOS's 21. SAS turned it over 8 times to BOS's 15. The glass went 38-56 against them. Fox led with 23 (10 of 16, 1 of 3 from three); Castle added 20, Wembanyama 17. Q3 was theirs, 34-27, the deficit cut from 19 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 89-69 against them. Champagnie's -13 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/20 vs PHX 120-109 — SAS notes
SAS won 120-109. SAS shot 47% (44 of 93) to PHX's 47%, 15 of 41 from three. SAS turned it over 9 times to PHX's 18. Fox led with 26 (8 of 19, 3 of 7 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Johnson added 15, Champagnie 15. The hinge was Q1, 31-21: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Vassell was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
2/21 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Fox at 22 and Wembanyama at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 107, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Cunningham at 26 and Beasley at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Harper Jr. (5 straight). 8 days' rest.
So: Detroit wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-9 a night and San Antonio minus-8 and the defense, Detroit allowing 107 a night to San Antonio's 115. Call it Detroit 116, San Antonio 113, San Antonio keeping it close.
2/23 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Williamson at 30 and McCollum at 26 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jones (18 straight), Brooks Jr. (3 straight), Boston (4 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Fox at 23 and Wembanyama at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 117 a night to New Orleans's 125 and the line, where New Orleans takes 26 free throws a game to San Antonio's 21. Call it San Antonio 117, New Orleans 115, New Orleans keeping it close.
2/25 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and McCollum at 21 a game. Without Jones (19 straight), Brooks Jr. (4 straight), Boston (5 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 24 and Johnson at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-1 a night and San Antonio minus-11 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 14 times a game to San Antonio's 11. Call it New Orleans 116, San Antonio 115, San Antonio keeping it close.
2/26 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without VanVleet (10 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 20 free throws a game; Fox at 21 and Johnson at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-5 a night and San Antonio minus-13 and the arc, Houston at 37 percent from three to San Antonio's 30. Call it Houston 114, San Antonio 109.
2/07 vs UTA 135-127 — PHX notes
PHX won 135-127 in 1 overtime. PHX shot 45% (47 of 104) to UTA's 41%, 22 of 56 from three. The glass went 49-63 against them. Booker led with 47 (18 of 33, 3 of 10 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Allen added 21, Jones 16. The hinge was Q2, 35-25: PHX came in trailing by 10 and left it level. Plumlee was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
2/08 vs DEN 105-122 — PHX notes
PHX lost 105-122. PHX shot 39% (38 of 98) to DEN's 49%, 17 of 50 from three. The glass went 43-56 against them. Booker led with 24 (8 of 19, 3 of 8 from three); Bol added 19, Jones 15. Q4 was theirs, 24-24, but the other 3 periods went 98-81 against them. O'Neale's -20 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/11 vs MEM 112-119 — PHX notes
PHX lost 112-119. PHX shot 45% (41 of 92) to MEM's 43%, 12 of 44 from three. The glass went 42-60 against them. Durant led with 34 (12 of 18, 3 of 4 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Bol added 18, Booker 17. Q3 was theirs, 31-27, the deficit cut from 12 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 92-81 against them. Jones's -15 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/12 @ HOU 111-119 — PHX notes
PHX lost 111-119. PHX shot 52% (46 of 89) to HOU's 47%, 10 of 26 from three, and got to the line just 11 times against 19 fouls committed. PHX turned it over 17 times to HOU's 11, and HOU turned those into 10 steals. Durant led with 37 (15 of 22, 2 of 5 from three); Bol added 15, O'Neale 14. Q2 was theirs, 23-19, but the other 3 periods went 100-88 against them. They led by as many as 11. O'Neale's -20 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/20 @ SAS 109-120 — PHX notes
PHX lost 109-120. PHX shot 47% (38 of 81) to SAS's 47%, 16 of 44 from three. PHX turned it over 18 times to SAS's 9, and SAS turned those into 13 steals. O'Neale led with 27 (10 of 16, 6 of 12 from three); Durant added 22, Beal 19. Q2 was theirs, 33-29, the deficit cut from 10 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 91-76 against them. Bol's -13 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/22 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 126, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Giddey at 17 and Vučević at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Durant at 31 and Booker at 26 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Ighodaro (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Chicago takes 23 free throws a game to Phoenix's 18. Call it Phoenix 117, Chicago 116, Chicago keeping it close.
2/23 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 114, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Barnes at 20 and Quickley at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Poeltl (6 straight), Lawson (13 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Booker at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Ighodaro (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Toronto wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Toronto 114, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
2/25 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 120, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Morant at 20 and Bane at 18 a game. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Beal at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been minus-1 a night and Phoenix minus-7. Call it Memphis 120, Phoenix 114.
2/27 vs NOP — 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 120 a night and allowing 127, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Durant at 25 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Williamson at 26 and McCollum at 20 a game. Without Jones (20 straight), Brooks Jr. (5 straight), Boston (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 112 a night to Phoenix's 127 and the arc, Phoenix at 39 percent from three to New Orleans's 32. Call it Phoenix 117, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Beal
BB B. Bol
DB D. Booker
GA G. Allen
KD K. Durant
MP M. Plumlee
NR N. Richards
RO R. O'Neale
TJ T. Jones
SASBB B. Biyombo
CP C. Paul
DF D. Fox
DV D. Vassell
HB H. Barnes
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
SC S. Castle
PHX/SAS 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
Spurs beat the Suns 120-109 hours after losing star Wembanyama due to a blood clot in his shoulder
AUSTIN, Texas -- — De'Aaron Fox scored 11 straight points in the final three minutes and finished with 26 as San Antonio beat the Phoenix Suns 120-109 Thursday night, hours after learning Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was done for the season due to a blood clot in his right shoulder.
Fox added nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks as the Spurs won the opener of a two-game set in Austin, a city they covet as part of a mega-region that they’ve been cultivating for years.
Keldon Johnson and Julian Champagnie each scored 15 points for San Antonio. Stephon Castle had 10 rebounds and Chris Paul 10 assists.
Royce O'Neale scored 27 to lead Phoenix, which lost its fourth straight game and for the seventh time in eight games.
Kevin Durant scored 22 points in his return to the University of Texas campus . The All-Star forward played one season at Texas, 2006-07, and was selected as player of the year by The Associated Press and a number of other outlets.
Takeaways Suns: Phoenix was beaten on the boards 44-39, despite the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama missing from the Spurs lineup. The Suns were also outscored 50-36 in points in the paint.
Spurs: Paul had two steals and passed Jason Kidd for second place on the NBA's all-time list, behind John Stockton . Bismack Biyombo started in place of Wembanyama and scored eight points in 16 minutes. Charles Bassey , Wembanyama's usual backup, missed his sixth straight game with a knee injury.
Key moment Castle made a fast-break layup, and Champagnie hit a 3-pointer to give the Spurs a 94-79 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Key stat Biyombo, playing for the first time this season on the last day of a 10-day contract, scored six points in the third quarter.
Up next The Suns visit Chicago on Saturday. The Spurs host Detroit on Friday in Austin.