Who: Phoenix Suns (24-16) @ Detroit Pistons (28-10)
When: 5:00pm Arizona Time
Where: Little Caesars Arena — Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports, NBATV
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Phoenix Suns head to Detroit to face the best team in the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons. Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, and Tobias Harris have all missed a handful of games in January. The Pistons are well-rested, with their last game on Saturday.
For the Suns, Jalen Green’s
availability looms over this road trip, as does the health of Devin Booker’s ankle. He is questionable for this game against the Pistons. Just like New Orleans, the Detroit Pistons are a homecoming for Booker, who grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which could bring a different edge to these games if he is healthy enough to play.
The Suns, having started 1-4 to begin the season, have only lost back-to-back games twice since then. Once to Oklahoma City and Denver, and another to Oklahoma City and Los Angeles.
Against the Heat on Tuesday, the Suns’ defense struggled to stop Miami’s stars, and they will need to play much better against whoever is playing for the Pistons. The Suns decisively won the possession battle against the Heat, but poor defense and poor 3-point shooting were too much for the Suns to overcome to win. The Suns will have to play much better to win in Detroit.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
- Jordan Goodwin – AVAILABLE (Jaw Sprain – Mask)
- Royce O’Neale – PROBABLE (Left Biceps Contusion)
- Devin Booker – QUESTIONABLE (Left Ankle Sprain)
- Nigel Hayes-Davis – QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Sprain)
- Jamaree Bouyea – OUT (Concussion Protocol)
- Jalen Green – OUT (Right Hamstring Strain)
Pistons
- Jalen Duren — PROBABLE (Right Ankle Strain)
- Tobias Harris — PROBABLE (Left Hip Strain)
What to Watch For
The Suns and Pistons are two very similar teams, which will make this an entertaining game to watch.
The Pistons are the second-best defensive team in the NBA and second in offensive rebound percentage. The Suns are sixth and fifth in those categories, respectively. Whoever controls the glass in this game will come away victorious. With the front line of Duren and Stewart for the Pistons, Mark Williams will have his hands full defensively and on the boards. He is coming off one of his best games of the season, scoring 24 points and grabbing 14 rebounds against the Heat, and the Suns utilized his size by posting him up against the Heat’s switching defense. Can Phoenix continue to get Williams free against Detroit?
The Pistons are 28th in the NBA in turnovers per game, averaging 15.9 per contest this season. The Suns and Pistons are tied for first in the NBA in steals per game, and the Pistons lead the NBA in blocks. Both teams will extend their aggressive defenses to create easy opportunities on the other end. Will Gillespie, Booker, and Brooks take care of the ball well enough to ensure a Suns victory?
Key to a Suns Win
The Suns shot a putrid 14-of-48 from the 3-point line in Miami, Brooks was 1-of-10, and Booker was 1-of-5. The Suns need to shoot better from the 3-point line if they want to win against the Pistons. Defensively, it all starts and stops with slowing down one of the best guards in the league, Cunningham. Brooks’s size and strength give him the ability to potentially slow down Cunningham, and the rest of the Suns have to hold up when Brooks is not on the floor.
The Suns also need to start the game fast. The Pistons have not played since Saturday, plus Cunningham, Harris, and Duren all missed the last two or more games. If Detroit comes out rusty, Phoenix has to be ready to pounce on the opportunity.
Prediction
Suns do not lose back-to-backs.
Suns 110, Pistons 105
