PHOENIX — The Detroit Pistons defeated the Phoenix Suns 133-125 Saturday night, as the Suns continued to struggle with turnovers and defensive execution, especially with star player Devin Booker sidelined due to left groin soreness.
The win improved the Pistons’ record to 12-17, breaking their seven-game losing streak to the Suns, who fell to 14-13 after suffering their second consecutive loss. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 28 points and 13 assists, providing a brilliant performance to push his team past Phoenix.
While the Suns had strong individual performances — Kevin Durant posting a season-high 43 points and Bradley Beal adding 26 — their defensive difficulties and turnover problems proved insurmountable. Phoenix committed 19 turnovers during the game, contributing to 34 points for Detroit, reminiscent of earlier struggles from last season.
"We’ve discussed it as a group," said Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer about the turnover issue after the game. "There’s probably lots of things, but it’s something we’ve got to improve. It makes it hard on our defense, and we can’t let teams have those kinds of easy baskets.”
The game started poorly for Phoenix, leading to Detroit establishing a commanding 41-26 lead after the first quarter. A lack of defensive engagement allowed the Pistons to exploit holes and score easily, particularly through the paint.
Even though the Suns shot impressively at 57.7% from the floor, their inability to protect the ball and manage their defensive assignments cost them dearly. Budenholzer noted the importance of maintaining focus and execution, especially against quick, athletic teams like Detroit.
Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff highlighted his team's offensive resilience, saying, "When you’ve got guys like KD and Brad Beal, they’re going to create something. Our guys handled it well and didn’t get stagnant down the stretch.”
The game showcased the Pistons' depth with Jaden Ivey returning from injury to score 20 points, alongside 8 rebounds and 8 assists, proving pivotal throughout the match. Ivey's performance sparked Detroit's early dominance and helped keep the pressure on Phoenix defensively.
A particularly bright moment for Phoenix emerged late when they clawed back within five points, yet each time they seemed poised for recovery, costly mistakes thwarted their efforts. Late-game turnovers led to wide-open shots for the Pistons, significantly Miami's Malik Beasley hitting timely 3-pointers, extending Detroit’s lead when the Suns were closing the gap.
“It’s tough to lose games like this when you feel you have opportunities to win,” said Durant, reflecting on his eight turnovers during the contest. “I gotta be smarter, and it starts with me. If I had just two or three turnovers instead of eight, we probably would’ve won.” He acknowledged the importance of taking personal responsibility for the team's performance.
Despite their struggles, the Suns managed intermittent bursts of offensive quality, with strong shooting from their starters but failing to translate good offense to effective defense. Though they found rhythm on scoring plays, those efforts were often undone by lapses on defense. This inconsistency has become emblematic of their season.
Bradley Beal, stepping up as one of the primary scorers with Booker sidelined, emphasized the need for defensive improvement. “We have to take pride in our individual matchups. Sometimes we’re too reliant on help, but if we want to win, we have to challenge our opponents directly.”
With the Suns facing their second straight defeat, they need to regroup swiftly before their next game against the Denver Nuggets on Monday. A pressing challenge awaits as they look to turn this trend around, especially with the constant reshuffling of lineups due to injuries.
On the other hand, the Pistons look to build momentum from this victory, as they head out on a four-game road trip, hoping to string together positive performances and climb back up their standings.
With inefficiencies for both teams made apparent, this game served as yet another reminder of the unpredictability of the NBA season, where standout individual performances can still lead to defeat without collective team cohesion.
“We’ve got to learn from this and be able to counteract when the other team goes on runs,” Bickerstaff concluded, expressing confidence in his team moving forward. The Pistons certainly hope this win will propel them toward greater consistency as they navigate the rest of the season.
