Atlanta, GA
Phoenix Suns: Turnovers, giving up 3s, what else we learned in loss at Atlanta Hawks
ATLANTA — Dominate.
That’s the word Phoenix Suns coach Frank Vogel used in describing their approach to this seven-game road trip that began with an impressive win at Dallas followed up by back-to-back losses to Indiana and Orlando in which they wilted in the fourth quarter.
The Suns responded with two straight wins at Miami and Brooklyn to set the table to finish the marathon trip facing two sub .500 teams Friday at Atlanta and Sunday at Washington.
Win those two, Phoenix would be sitting 10 games above .500, a major achievement when considering the new-look roster that dealt with multiple injuries under a new coaching staff.
The Atlanta Hawks didn’t allow that to happen.
Hitting 17 shots from 3 and scoring 21 points off 17 Phoenix turnovers, the Hawks (21-27) exploited the Suns’ weaknesses in handing them a 129-120 loss before a crowd of 16,536 at State Farm Arena.
Now the Suns (28-21) will look to finish the trip with at least a winning record on Sunday, as they face the lowly Wizards (9-38), who have the second-worst record in the league next to Detroit.
Here’s what we learned from Friday’s loss, as the Suns lost despite scoring 60 points in the paint and 23 fast-break points.
Quick numbers
Kevin Durant scored a game-high 35 points to lead the Suns as all five starters reached double figures. Devin Booker added 24.
Atlanta’s Trae Young went for a team-high 32, hitting 7-of-11 from 3 while Bogdan Bogdanovic came off the bench to score 23 points. He connected on 4-of-7 deep ones.
Beal is trying not to make excuses, but he found himself bleeding from the nose after taking a hit on it in the first half on a foul.
Tough guy, my friends. Tough guy.
He said after the game players have shot the ball well wearing a mask. He played with one from a broken nose during his playing days with the Wizards in the 2015-16 season.
His coaches and teammates are quick to come to his defense. He posted a double-double of 14 points and 10 assists, but turned the ball over four times, shot 5-of-16 and didn’t make a three on seven attempts.
Since he returned in the fourth quarter at Indiana from going down after taking an elbow from Myles Turner, Beal is an (ugh) 20-of-63 from the field overall (31.7%), making only two out of 26 3s.
Two. Wow.
Beal has missed 24 games this season with back issues and an ankle sprain. His toughness can’t be questioned, but what can be is whether Beal should be playing.
No way he’s missing Sunday’s return game to Washington, where he spent 11 seasons. He’s the second all-time leading scorer in franchise history and has the record for most 3-pointers made.
D.C. is his home. The fans will give him his flowers, but after that one, he might want to consider sitting out a game just to further find out if the mask can be improved.
The Suns had already started the game without much sense of urgency.
The Hawks were cooking them from deep as Young led the 3-point barrage. They failed to bring the physicality on defense they displayed against Brooklyn.
The game was late in the fourth with the Hawks up seven, but Eric Gordon’s 3 with 2:41 left gave them a little bit of hope.
Enter the NBA replay center in Secaucus, N.J.
Any field goal made close to the 3-point line are reviewed with one of the review triggers being did a player jump from out of bounds on their shot.
The replay concluded that Gordon was jumped from out of bounds on the 3.
Huh?
By the time the PA announcer told everyone in the arena Gordon’s 3 was taken off the board and Dejounte Murray made two free throws, the Suns trailed by nine with 2:24 remaining.
The game isn’t over, but it’s not a good look for the Suns.
Gordon said after the game he was in his usual spot on a corner 3, but added if he was out of bounds, it’s OK for him to jump back in, set his feet and shoot.
There lies the conundrum.
The toughest part of this rule is it takes away momentum from the team that’s on the wrong side of it. You look up and see the scoreboard literally change.
That can be demoralizing. The Suns still had time, but the replay has never been able to make the change on the spot. That’s why it’s called a review.
Booker’s importance
Yeah, he picked up his fourth foul with 1:04 left in the third with Phoenix up two, 95-93.
Booker felt Dejounte Murray hooked him a little bit and sold the call, but he took ownership of the first three fouls. Still, if a guy collects his fourth in the third quarter, they usually come out the game.
Wonder if Vogel is second-guessing that now.
Josh Okogie replaced Booker to give the Suns a lineup of Eric Gordon, Keita Bates-Diop, Drew Eubanks and Beal, who is dealing with the nose.
Durant was taking his usual rest at the end of the third.
Vogel is thinking the Suns can hold on a minute and change right? Not this time.
The Hawks closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 100-95 lead going into the fourth.
Maybe he reinserts Booker to begin the fourth, but then that’s not showing confidence in the guys on the court. Besides, Durant checked back in at the start of the fourth.
By the time Booker returned with 9:28 remaining in the game, Phoenix trailed by nine after a Murray layup forced Vogel to call a timeout.
Booker has talked about the need to have at least two of the Big 3 on the court. Vogel didn’t think that was necessary at that point in the game.
Turns out it was. See if Vogel trusts Booker to play with four fouls when put in that situation again.
Bol Bol is back from his right foot sprain that kept him out nine games, but hasn’t played in Phoenix’s last two games. The 7-footer felt confident he could play Wednesday at Brooklyn, but Vogel said before the game he wanted him to get a “practice or two” in before playing him.
After not seeing action against the Nets, Bol played an hour of pickup ball Thursday and looked good, Vogel said.
Still, Vogel didn’t play Bol Friday, saying he was sticking to the frontcourt rotation of Josh Okogie, Keita Bates-Diop and Drew Eubanks to start, but would play Bol if needed.
The Suns were saying they were hopeful Bol played during the road trip. They have one more game left on it Sunday against the Wizards.
Grayson Allen returned after missing Wednesday’s win at Brooklyn with a right ankle sprain suffered in the first half of Monday’s win at Miami.
Up next — Beal returns to D.C. in road trip finale
Now it’s Beal’s turn.
This seven-game road trip has been a reunion tour of sorts for the Suns. Vogel coached against his former teams Indianapolis and Orlando. Durant faces his former team in Brooklyn as did Yuta Watanabe. Josh Okogie played in home Atlanta area against the Hawks.
Now, Beal will face his former team for the first time in Washington D.C. since the offseason trade that sent Chris Paul to the Wizards, who later dealt Paul to Golden State and got Jordan Poole in return.
Jordan Goodwin also played for the Wizards, but not nearly as long as Beal, who spent 11 seasons in D.C. Should be a memorable return for the three-time All-Star, who was a major fixture there.
The Wizards are 3-7 in their last 10 games as they have the second-worst record in the NBA behind Detroit. They removed Wes Unseld Jr. from his head coaching duties into a front office role last month and named Brian Keefe interim head coach.
The Wizards are 2-3 under Keefe, losing their last two to the Clippers and Heat.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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NASCAR O’Reilly Series qualifying results from EchoPark Speedway
Later today, NASCAR O’Reilly Series drivers take the green flag. Now, teams are rolling to the track for qualifying at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta.
View the Atlanta starting lineup for the NASCAR O’Reilly Series below.
Atlanta/Lime Rock Menu
ARCA: Race
Truck: Prac/Qual
O’Reilly: Qual
Atlanta/Lime Rock TV Schedule
The fields makes one lap in the opening round of qualifying. The top 10 from round one advance into round 2 and make another run for the pole position.
Atlanta Qualifying Results (Top 10 – Round 1) : 1. Carson Kvapil 31.987 2. Sam Mayer 32.035 3. Sammy Smith 32.117 4. Jesse Love 32.128 5. William Sawalich 32.171 6. Taylor Gray 32.218 7. Sheldon Creed 32.224 8. Rajah Caruth 32.238 9. Patrick Staropoli 32.224 10. Brent Crews 32.279
Sam Mayer will start from the pole position. He turned a laptime at 31.994 seconds in the second round of qualifying.
EchoPark Speedway
Starting Lineup
July 11, 2026
NASCAR O’Reilly Series
Pos | Driver
1. Sam Mayer
31.994
2. Carson Kvapil
31.978
3. Jesse Love
32.020
4. William Sawalich
32.106
5. Sammy Smith
32.119
6. Sheldon Creed
32.136
7. Brent Crews
32.155
8. Rajah Caruth
32.194
9. Taylor Gray
32.200
10. Patrick Staropoli
32.302
— Failed to advance into Round 2 —
11. Austin Hill
32.286
12. Brandon Jones
32.315
13. Corey Day
32.327
14. Jeremy Clements
32.335
15. Jake Finch
32.336
16. Justin Allgaier
32.379
17. Anthony Alfredo
32.393
18. Nick Sanchez
32.400
19. Ryan Sieg
32.429
20. Kyle Sieg
32.459
21. Jeb Burton
32.545
22. Parker Retzlaff
32.547
23. Dean Thompson
32.573
24. Leland Honeyman Jr
32.583
25. Harrison Burton
32.619
26. Garrett Smithley
32.709
27. Ryan Ellis
32.778
28. Mason Maggio
32.783
29. Nick Leitz
32.857
30. Brennan Poole
32.862
31. Glen Reen
32.884
32. Lavar Scott
32.942
33. Joey Gase
32.946
34. Josh Bilicki
33.035
35. Logan Bearden
33.619
36. Carson Ware
36.110
37. Blaine Perkins
46.808
38. Jordan Anderson
No Time
Links
Atlanta Motor Speedway | Lime Rock Park | NASCAR
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An Atlanta-based mentoring program is making a stop in Jacksonville this weekend — and its leader says the city could be next on the map.
Next Level Boys Academy will set up at Clanzel T. Brown Park in the Moncrief area Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. as part of the “Save Our Sons Tour.” The free, family-friendly event runs alongside Duval Day, the annual block party hosted by Jacksonville-born comedian Lil Duval, which follows from 3 to 8 p.m.
From a Little League Sideline to a National Movement
Gary Davis, CEO and Executive Director of Next Level Boys Academy, says it all started on a baseball field. While coaching little league in 2009, he decided mentoring had to go deeper than sports.
“I built this organization from that group of young men that I coached back in 2009,” Davis said.
What began with 11 young men has grown to serve between 200 and 300 youth each year. The program has drawn national media attention and support from high-profile names, including rappers T.I. and Killer Mike.
What the Program Does
Next Level Boys Academy mentors teens on Saturdays, working with youth ages 5 to 10. It also runs an alternative-to-incarceration program for first-time offenders ages 12 to 25.
Davis says the impact goes beyond mentorship.
“On average we’ve probably diverted about 100 years of prison time a week,” he said.
Former NFL player Will Sweet is also part of the Jacksonville visit. Sweet leads the entrepreneurship and professional development component of the academy’s Atlanta program.
A Vision for Duval County
Davis, a former educator and social worker, says this weekend is about more than one event. He wants Jacksonville’s leaders to take notice.
“The ultimate reason why we are coming to Jacksonville this weekend is because we want the city officials and local government to see there is an innovative mentoring organization that is working in Atlanta — and we have people that are in place there that could start this and move it,” Davis said. “There is no need in re-inventing the wheel.”
What You Need to Know
The Next Level Boys Academy and Empowerment Center program is free and open to families. Here are the details:
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What: Next Level Boys Academy — Save Our Sons Tour
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Where: Clanzel T. Brown Park
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When: Saturday, noon to 1 p.m.
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Duval Day: 3 to 8 p.m. at the same location
Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.
The NBA offseason has slowed down this week and there is not a lot of business left to be done around the league. Basketball fans and front offices alike are waiting for the decision from LeBron James, but there are still a few prized restricted free agents on the market that have unresolved situations for the 2026-2027 season.
One of them in Nuggets forward Peyton Watson. Watson had the breakout season that Denver fans had been hoping for, but injuries slowed things down towards the end of the season. Despite the injuries, Watson is a coveted player around the league due to being a high-level two-way wing that can guard and shoot from deep. Denver has been trying to extend Watson, but they have not come to terms yet.
The Clippers and the Nets have been mentioned most prominently as a suitor for Watson, but today, NBA insider Jake Fischer noted that a new team has been showing interest, and that team is no other than the Atlanta Hawks:
“Atlanta, sources say, has also shown some fresh interest in Watson, which would likewise require a sign-and-trade to make it happen.
That said, whether it’s the Hawks or the Clippers or any other suitor, sources maintain that the Nuggets are seeking compensation on par with what Utah received from the Lakers in their recent sign-and-trade swap that made Walker Kessler a Laker.
The Lakers’ determined interest in the 7-foot-2 center netted two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps for the Jazz.
Sources say that price point has been too rich for the Clippers or the Hawks when it comes to Watson.”
Could the Hawks actually acquire Watson?
This is the first report of the Hawks holding interest in Watson, but because he is a restricted free agent, I think it is going to be very, very difficult for Atlanta to actually obtain the talented young wing.
Because the Hawks don’t have the cap space to sign Watson to an offer sheet, the only way that they could acquire him would be through a sign-and-trade. If what Fischer says is true, that Denver is going to want a Walker Kessler type return (Utah traded Kessler to Los Angeles for two first round pick swaps and two unprotected first round picks), I think you can safely count Atlanta out of that kind of a deal.
Onsi Saleh and the Hawks front office have made it clear that they are not going to skip steps in building this team and that they are not “one move” away. Atlanta was continuously mentioned as a suitor for Jaylen Brown, but if they were not willing to surrender real assets to obtain him, why would they do that for Watson?
Watson is a very talented player and if healthy, there is a chance that his next contract is going to be a bargain deal. This past season, he averaged a career-best 14.6 PPG, a career-best 4.9 RPG, while shooting 49% from the floor and 41% from three and is a solid defender as well. He fits into the Hawks timeline perfectly, but again, the cost of multiple draft assets for a player who is more unproven than Walker Kessler was would not be a smart move by what is considered to be a very smart front office.
Could Denver lower the asking price for Watson? Possibly, but I think the more likely outcome this offseason is that Watson and Denver find a middle ground on a contract and he returns to the Nuggets.
Restricted free agents don’t have a lot of leverage in these situations and while Atlanta could be very interested in acquiring him, I would be pretty surprised if they overpaid for him like the Lakers did for Kessler.
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