Game Recap: Suns drop another one at home to the Pistons, 133-125

The Phoenix Suns are in trouble.

The Phoenix Suns fell short yet again to a team with a losing record on their home floor. Kevin Durant scored 43 points in his second consecutive season-high despite the loss.

The Pistons were in control for the entire night, exposing the Suns’ issues for the second straight game. Youth, athleticism, defense. The Suns have very little of those three things.

It was a night to forget. Devin Booker cannot return soon enough.

Top Performers

• Kevin Durant — 43 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 14-26 FG
• Bradley Beal — 26 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 11-20 FG
• Jaden Ivey — 20 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 7-14 FG
• Cade Cunningham — 28 points, 13 assists, 2 steals, 9-19 FG

Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images

First Half

The Pistons started quick, running up to a 9-6 lead taking advantage of the Suns in transition. Detroit extended that lead to eight points after a Tim Hardaway Jr. three, leading to a Suns timeout with 7:05.

The energy and athleticism of the Pistons stood out and the Suns continued to turn the ball over and play lifeless defense. The Suns had 7 turnovers in the first period. A recipe for disaster.

The Pistons simply could not miss the entire quarter, shooting 63.0% from the field.

They took a 41-26 lead into the second quarter. It was an opening 12 minutes to forget.

Phoenix showed a little life to open the second quarter, cutting the lead down to 10 after a Bradley Beal triple. Beal started to show signs of life, heating up for 12 points in the first 7 minutes of the quarter.

Ryan Dunn hit a corner three to cut the lead down to seven, 62-55.

His presence injected some life to cut what was once a 15-point lead down to three.

Phoenix outscored the Pistons 33-23 in the 2nd quarter, entering the second half down 64-59.

Second Half

The teams traded punches to open the third, with the pace of play picking up a bit. Cade Cunningham threw down a poster dunk over Beal which was followed up by a THJ corner three to extend the Pistons lead to 8.

The Pistons restored control of the tempo in the third quarter, with a quick 21-12 advantage through the first 4 minutes of the third.

Tyus Jones was a perfect 6 of 6 from the field midway through the 3rd, connecting on a three to make it an 85-74 ballgame. Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal were keeping the Suns alive with 24 points apiece midway through the third quarter.

Ryan Dunn had an emphatic block that was initially called a foul but was quickly overturned after a Suns challenge. Kevin Durant drilled a three on the following possession to cut it to nine heading into the final period.

The Suns fought back and cut the lead down to five what felt like 100 times, but the Pistons matched just about every call.

Finally, Kevin Durant hit two free throws to cut the lead down to just three with 2:26 remaining. Shortly after that, Malik Beasley drilled a three to put a dagger in the Suns. Offensively they were in the mix, but their defense just couldn’t get stops.

Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images

Up Next?

The Suns will travel to Denver to take on the Nuggets in the Mile High City on Monday. It will be the first of back-to-back games against Denver including the Christmas Day game.