Despite the morning schedule in Detroit (1:00 p.m.), the two teams start on their feet. The defenses remain in the locker room during the first quarter and we are witnessing a festival of attack. On fire from the start, Devin Booker scored 15 points and Cade Cunningham answered him with 10 points and 3 assists. The two men defend against each other, go blow for blow and deliver a very good duel in the match. At the end of the first quarter, the Suns lead the proceedings (39-35) thanks to a devilish address (16/20) and 11 assists.
The second quarter is the opposite of the first: the offensive pace drops, the address of the two teams too (43% for the Suns, 29% for the Pistons). The “role players” point the tip of their noses in relay of their leaders: Cam Payne scores 12 points on the Phoenix side when Trey Lyles and Hamidou Diallo bring 9 points each on the Detroit side. Still largely in control despite a second quarter clearly worse than the first, the Suns join the locker room with a 10-point lead (64-54), behind Devin Booker’s 21 points (9/11).
After the break, the Suns give a boost: 39 points (13/25) scored in the third quarter, including 9 from Devin Booker who continues to reign chaos in the defense of the premises and brings his total to 30 points in 36 minutes. Overwhelmed by the offensive firepower of their opponents, the Pistons trailed by 21 points at the end of the third quarter (103-82).
The last quarter is a long “garbage time” in which Devin Booker does not take part. The benches empty and end the meeting, which ends in an authoritative victory for the Suns, never in danger.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The premature exit of Deandre Ayton. After a successful first quarter (6 points and 2 assists), the pivot joined the locker room and never returned from the game. On their Twitter account, the Suns revealed that he suffered a sprained ankle.
– The expulsion of Cade Cunningham. The rookie received two technical fouls during the third quarter, resulting in his expulsion. The first for having too vehemently refuted a whistled foul against him, the second… for having celebrated a dunk by pointing his finger at his bench.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Le duel Devin Booker vs Cade Cunningham. The first finished the meeting with 30 points (11/18), 4 rebounds and 4 assists in 29 minutes, and the second stood up to him (21 points at 9/15 and 4 assists) before being cut off in his tracks by a very severe explosion. Opposed in defense from the in-between, the All-Star of the Suns and the star rookie of the Pistons fought a formidable duel, unfortunately cut short by the refereeing corps.
✅ Trey Lyles. Off the bench, the former Spurs player shone: 17 points (6/8), 6 rebounds and 2 assists in 19 minutes. In this Detroit team in reconstruction and in search of a new identity, the interior seems to have found its place.
✅ The Suns bench. Under the panels, Javale McGee showed his best side (20 points and 6 rebounds) following the premature exit of Ayton. Outside, Cam Payne (19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) and Landry Shamet (11 points and 5 assists) took advantage of the Pistons’ permissive defense to inflate their stats. In relay of a Devin Booker hot as embers, the three substitutes maintained the pressure on their adversaries.
⛔ Isaiah Stewart. The pivot did not take advantage of Deandre Ayton’s quick exit and finished with a timid line of stats: 5 points at 2/8 on shots, and 6 rebounds. His coach Dwane Casey preferred Trey Lyles then Luka Garza in the second half.
THE FOLLOWING
Detroit (10-32): Tuesday, trip to the Bay to face the Warriors
Phoenix (33-9): second match of a “back-to-back” tomorrow, in San Antonio
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