Game Recap: Kevin Durant scores 21 in Suns’ 105-97 preseason victory over the Pistons

Solid performance from KD, and rookies. Bol Bol? Not so much.

The Phoenix Suns kicked off their Tuesday afternoon with an early matchup against the Detroit Pistons, facing off at Michigan State’s campus in their second preseason game of the year. The day began with Devin Booker bestowing Book 1’s to the MSU team and ended with a 105-97 win for Phoenix.

Kevin Durant looked fantastic, draining the three-ball with precision, hitting 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, and leading the scoring surge with 21 points for the Suns. He finished the night shooting 8-of-12 overall.

Once again, the rookies stole the spotlight, showcasing impressive ball movement and three-point shooting. With Ryan Dunn making beautiful defensive plays and Oso excelling in rim-running, it’s hard not to feel excited about their potential. Both players seem poised to contribute early and often for the Suns.

Jalen Duren continued to demonstrate his promising career trajectory, leading the Pistons with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, along with 5 rebounds. Jaden Ivey contributed 16 points, while rookie Ron Holland II added 10. The youth movement is undeniably strong in Motown.

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Game Flow

First Half

The three-ball and the Big Three were dialed in early as Durant, Booker, and Beal combined for 15 of the Suns’ first 18 points. The other three points? Why, that came at the hands of Ryan Dunn. Sharpshooter Ryan Dunn?

But Dunn wasn’t…um…done. A steal on the next possession. Later in the quarter, he robbed Cade Cunningham as he drove to the hoop, took the ball upcourt, and hit a three in transition. Chef’s kiss. It’s over. The kid is a superstar.

Jaden Ivey started strong for the Pistons in the first quarter, knocking down all four of his shots and tallying 9 points.

The Suns’ ball movement in the first quarter was sharp, creating open looks for their shooters. Phoenix attempted 15 three-pointers, connecting on all of them. Kevin Durant led the scoring with 10 points, going a flawless 4-for-4 from the field, including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.

They even closed out the quarter with a buzzer-beatin’ three-pointer by Bradley Beal. Suns up 36-29 after one.

The offense slowed down in the second as the teams combined for 13 points halfway through the period and 1-of-13 shooting.

Bol Bol entered the game to loud cheers with just over seven minutes left in the second quarter, as fans celebrated his presence. A legend in every arena. However, his performance didn’t live up to that reputation. He struggled with spacing, lagged on defense, and made several poor passes. Bol’s rough stretch coincided with a Detroit run, as the Pistons erased most of the Suns’ 10-point lead, cutting it down to just three.

A timeout with three minutes left was a solid reset of the team, Bol included. A solid defensive possession followed by a quality pass to Royce O’Neale for an open three and it felt as if the team settled down. It was one of three made three-pointers in the half for Royce.

After firing off 15 three-pointers in the first quarter, Phoenix attempted 11 more in the second, connecting on just three. That brought their halftime total to 10-of-26 from beyond the arc, a mark they surpassed only nine times all of last season.

Kevin Durant led the Suns with 13 points at the break, while Royce O’Neale contributed 11 on an efficient 4-of-5 shooting. Both teams struggled offensively in the second quarter, each scoring 17 points.

At halftime, Phoenix held a 53-46 lead over Detroit.

Second Half

The Suns opened the second half with their starting lineup, but they were slow to find their rhythm, allowing the Pistons to go on a 7-2 run that trimmed the lead to just two points. Phoenix, however, quickly found their footing. They answered back with a focused 12-5 run, highlighted by crisp ball movement and fast-paced play. Tyus Jones punctuated the surge with a transition three-pointer, restoring momentum to the Suns and widening the gap once more.

Tyus had another solid outing, dishing 7 assists without a turnover. The passing was on point, finding players in rhythm and putting them in a position to be successful.

A 20-0 run by the Suns let the starters call it a night early. Devin Booker, despite taking six three-pointers, came up empty and finished with 10 points. Kevin Durant led the way with 21, hitting 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, while Bradley Beal added 12.

Have I mentioned Oso Ighodaro yet? Once again, I’m thoroughly impressed. I could go on and on about his spacing, basketball IQ, and passing. Everything is so clean and crisp. His screening? Sharp and calculated. The kid just knows the game. On both ends of the floor.

Watch this play. Oso’s processing skills are already razor-sharp. I hate to bring up the past, but do you remember how long it used to take Deandre Ayton to process similar situations? If you gave him the ball there, he’d pause. Hesitate. And by the time he made a decision, the play would stall and break down.

The Suns outscored the Pistons 31-20 in the third. Phoenix up 84-66 after three.

The fourth opened with a scuffle between Damion Lee and rookie Ron Holland II which was much ado about nothing. As the period progressed, we continued to see minutes for both of the Suns’ rookies, as well as minutes from Bol Bol and Frank the Tank.

Bol once again struggled defensively, with his final play highlighting those issues. He got beaten by Ron Holland’s quick first step and, arriving late, committed a foul in an attempt to recover.

Collin Gillespie had a strong fourth quarter, just like he did on Sunday night, leading Phoenix with 9 points. Although Detroit outscored Phoenix in the fourth, the Suns still managed to outpace the Pistons for the game overall.

Suns win, 105-97.

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Next up for the Suns? They play this same Pistons team, although this time it is back home at the Footprint Center on Friday evening.

See you then, Bright Side!!