The preseason is now halfway over after the Phoenix Suns lost 109-91 to the Detroit Pistons.

Without Devin Booker, the Suns struggled from the start, allowing the Pistons to take control and never look back. Detroit had an answer to everything the Suns threw at them, outlasting their opponents with the combined efforts of Tobias Harris and Cade Cunningham. Together they scored 47 points, demonstrated their offensive prowess and led the Pistons to a confident victory.

The Suns attempted to rebound, with key players stepping up to fill the void created by Booker’s absence. However, their efforts were negated by the Pistons’ relentless defense and sharp shooting. As the game progressed, it became clear that while the Suns have talent, they need to find their rhythm and cohesion as a team in order to compete at a higher level next season. After two dominant games, this game felt like a setback, but it was just preseason.

Game flow

First half

Before the game, it was announced that Devin Booker would not play against the Pistons. He was replaced by promising rookie Ryan Dunn, who stood out in the previous two preseason games.

Things got a little chaotic without Booker on the floor. While it wasn’t entirely due to his absence, the Pistons increased defensive pressure. They played full-court defense and made life difficult for the Suns on offense.

Still, Durant got to work, found his rhythm and quickly scored six points. His efforts helped steady the Suns’ offense, but the Pistons’ relentless defense kept up the pressure.

Midway through the first quarter, the Pistons had a 19-12 point lead behind Tobias Harris and his 12 points.

The Pistons continued to press until the end of the first quarter, looking dominant on offense and making 67% of their field shots and 40% of their three-pointers. They took a 40-29 lead in the second quarter and kept the Suns on their heels with sharp shooting and aggressive playmaking.

Beal kept the Suns alive with his ability to get into the paint at times and run away with the floater. The addition of Monte Morris, Bol Bol and Mason Plumlee gave a good look at what Beal would look like with the second unit and perhaps coming off the bench. He dominated the ball and thrived alongside Josh Okogie, who played small forward.

The Suns looked energetic, although they didn’t score many goals, there was a spark in their game.

Midway through the second quarter, the fight between Dunn and Cunningham was the main storyline of the game. After last week’s game in which Cunningham was limited on offense, Dunn was eager to capitalize. However, Dunn struggled and committed two quick fouls, making it difficult for Suns coach Mike Budenholzer to keep him in the game.

Entering the half, the Pistons still held a strong lead of 65-50 behind Harris and Cunningham, who combined for 38 points.

Second half

The Pistons continued to dominate and extended their lead to 20 points early in the third quarter. It was clear to everyone that it was just preseason, so there wasn’t much reason to panic or put too much pressure. However, when the second unit hit the floor in the third quarter, the momentum began to change. A thunderous dunk from Bol Bol sent the crowd into a frenzy, and suddenly the Suns were back in the game, cutting the Pistons’ lead to 12.

As the energy in the arena grew, the second unit increased their intensity, picked up the pace and showed what they could bring to the regular season. Fans could feel the momentum changing and there was a lot of excitement on the Suns bench.

Behind Dunns’ energy, anything is possible!

At the start of the fourth quarter, the Suns still lacked the run they needed to get back into the game. Although they had built some momentum, it seemed to fade as the Pistons continued to fire every shot. Despite the Suns’ efforts to mount a comeback, Detroit’s sharpshooters continued to hit their mark and maintain a comfortable lead.

Frustration set in as time ran out for the Suns, who struggled to find their rhythm against the Pistons’ relentless defense. Every time it looked like they might close the gap, Detroit responded with clutch baskets and left the Suns in trouble. Ultimately, it was a tough lesson in resilience for the Suns as they faced a well-rounded Pistons team.

The Pistons didn’t allow the Suns to come close to taking the lead, pulling away and winning 109-91.

Next up for the Suns? The Denver Nuggets on Sunday afternoon at 5:30 pm AZ time. See you then!