On an early October evening, we finally arrived at a destination we’ve been pining for since late April. And while the game ultimately doesn’t count toward the standings, Monday night marked the debut of the 2026–27 Phoenix Suns as they made their way to the Motor City to tip off their preseason. The result?
The starters played only the first half, led by Devin Booker’s 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting and 1-of-4 from beyond the arc. He added three assists as well. Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks combined
for 22 points while shooting 3-of-8 from three. But perhaps the biggest presence you felt Monday evening was Jordan Goodwin, who was an absolute firecracker during his 11 minutes on the floor: 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. Goodwin was active and everywhere.
Phoenix built a 19-point lead in the first half before coughing it up in a disastrous third quarter. The Suns turned the ball over 13 times and were outscored 34–16, completely erasing the cushion they had built over the first 24 minutes. There will be plenty of teaching points for the Suns after this one. Phoenix turned the ball over 32 times, allowing Detroit to score 37 points off those mistakes. After carrying a 68-50 lead into halftime, the Suns were outscored 59-39 in the second half.
Credit the Suns, they made things interesting at the end, putting together an 8–2 run to tie the game with 12.1 seconds remaining. But Pistons rookie Ebuka Okorie out of Tennessee attacked left and finished with his left hand, a bucket that ultimately proved to be the difference.
The loss showed us plenty, from what the potential of this team could be to where the opportunities for improvement lie. The standings will say 0-1, but we know the preseason isn’t about wins and losses. It’s about constantly learning, regardless of the result.
Game Flow
First Half
The first bit o’ news for all of those wondering? It was Oso Ighodaro who received the start at the five, receiving the nod over Khaman Maluach by head coach Jordan Ott.
Miles Bridges wasted no time making his presence felt. After Devin Booker turned the ball over on the opening possession, Bridges chased down the transition opportunity and stole the ball back. On the ensuing possession, he cleaned up a missed Jalen Green three with an offensive rebound and a dunk. Welcome to the Valley, Miles Bridges.
After another make, Bridges buried a corner three, scoring the first seven points of the game for Phoenix.
Shortly thereafter, Oso Ighodaro jumped the passing lane for a steal. Booker pushed the ball up the court to Bridges, who dished it to Jalen Green for another Phoenix jam.
It didn’t take long for Dillon Brooks to find his first skirmish of the season. With 7:23 remaining in the first quarter, the kung fu training was officially put into action. Following an offensive rebound by newly acquired Pistons power forward John Collins, Brooks aggressively swiped at the ball and was called for a foul. Collins took exception to the manner in which Brooks attempted to dislodge it, and the two exchanged words, resulting in double technical fouls.
But Collins grabbed Brooks by the neck during the altercation, prompting the officials to take a longer look at the play. After review, Collins was assessed a Flagrant 1.
With 5:36 remaining in the first quarter, we got our first look at Khaman Maluach as he entered alongside Jordan Goodwin, who replaced Miles Bridges at the four. Collin Gillespie replaced Jalen Green shortly thereafter. Green departed having scored five points on 2-of-5 shooting, including 1-of-3 from beyond the arc.
We also witnessed one of the NBA’s points of emphasis early on. As Devin Booker attempted to come off a screen, Ron Holland II hooked him and was called for impeding his progress. Will it be something we consistently see throughout the season? Time will tell. But if Booker plans to play off-ball with more frequency, it could ultimately benefit him as he navigates screens and attempts to create separation in a manner reminiscent of Klay Thompson a decade ago.
Jordan Goodwin’s impact was immediate as he attacked the offensive glass and pressured opposing players. In his first three minutes, he grabbed three offensive rebounds, scored four points on 2-of-3 shooting, both coming on putbacks, and added a steal. He was a major reason Phoenix dominated the offensive glass early, grabbing six offensive rebounds and outscoring Detroit 13–2 in second-chance points during the first quarter.
The other reason? Khaman Maluach. His first quarter was impressive. He was aggressive on the interior, deterred shots on the defensive end, and put himself in position to protect the rim. The shooting could use some love, however, as he missed his lone three-point attempt and went 0-of-3 from the free-throw line.
After one quarter, despite shooting 4-of-14 from beyond the arc for 28.6%, the Suns led 35-21. Phoenix ended on a 9-2 run. Miles Bridges led Phoenix with seven points, while Goodwin had five rebounds and two steals. And Dillon Brooks? He had three of the Suns’ four fouls.
The nastiness carried over into the second quarter, and the Suns’ effort didn’t wane. It was apparent on one broken possession that could ultimately become a microcosm of what Phoenix is trying to establish. The Suns kept moving, kept hustling, and despite Detroit’s physicality and multiple attempts to tip the ball away, Phoenix maintained possession until Luke Kennard knocked down a 10-footer. A small sequence, but a perfect example of how hustle creates possessions.
Jalen Green appeared to have a little rust in his new point guard role. There were a couple of possessions where he delivered passes without a clear recipient, almost like a quarterback throwing into a zone and hoping one of two crossing receivers comes down with it. He looked a little fatigued as well, although some of that could be attributed to the effort he was putting forth on the defensive end, which deserves credit. One point of emphasis for Green moving forward will be driving with his eyes up rather than his head down. But you get him out in transition…
Yes, his explosiveness appears to be back. Green continually attacked the cylinder, flying through the air and getting to the line as a result. He finished the second with 4 points in the quarter, all coming at the line.
The three-ball started falling with much more regularity as well. Halfway through the third quarter, Phoenix was 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, helping push its lead to 19 points. Add in the fact that Detroit was shooting 29.4% from the field, and the Suns were comfortably in control.
After scoring 35 points in the first quarter, the Suns added another 33 in the second, shooting 58% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc in the quarter. Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Jalen Green were all in double figures at the half, with Booker leading the way with 13 points while adding four rebounds and three assists.
Phoenix outscored Detroit 26-14 in the paint, 12-5 in second-chance points, and 7-2 in fast break points, carrying a comfortable 68-50 lead into halftime.
Second Half
The second half began with Collin Gillespie, Luke Kennard, Jordan Goodwin, Rasheer Fleming, and Khaman Maluach. The starters? They were done for the night. Detroit kept its starters on the floor except for Cade Cunningham, giving Phoenix’s second unit a chance to compete against much of the Pistons’ starting five.
Fleming looked a little choppy defensively and somewhat unsure when pursuing rebounds, but he confidently knocked down his first three-point attempt, which came off a dribble handoff from Gillespie.
Maluach continued to make his presence felt. On one possession, John Collins came charging toward the rim looking like he wanted to throw down one of his patented posterizing dunks. But when Maluach went up to challenge him, Collins adjusted his shot. He knew he wasn’t going through him. Then came a play in transition in which Maluach was rewarded with an easy dunk. He certainly looks bigger and more powerful this season, and that added strength is already showing itself on both ends of the floor.
Koa Peat entered the game for the first time midway through the third quarter. On his first opportunity, Peat went left and attacked the basket, drawing a foul as the Pistons pushed Duop Reath into him. Peat went to the line for his first points in a Suns uniform, but missed both free throws.
He would score his first points moments later, in true Koa fashion.
The lead the Suns had built in the first half completely dissipated in the third quarter as the second and third units struggled to hold onto the ball. Phoenix scored only 16 points in the quarter despite shooting 40% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc. The problem was the 13 turnovers.
Detroit took full advantage, outscoring Phoenix 14-6 in the paint and 14-5 in points off turnovers. The Pistons won the quarter 34-16, closing it on a 22-3 run to erase what had once been a comfortable Suns lead. After three, we were right back where we started, 84-84.
Jamaree Bouyea provided a spark to start the fourth, knocking down a three and attacking the basket for five quick points. But an 8–0 Detroit run followed, giving the Pistons their first lead of the game.
The fourth quarter was much of the same. Sloppy play, turnovers, and clearly a group of players still learning how to play with one another and settle into their roles. Bouyea had a rough go of it leading that unit. He had no trouble finding his own offense, but some of his turnovers were simply ugly. With three minutes remaining and the Suns trailing 99–97, an ill-advised foul by Bouyea on Bryce Williams gave Detroit three free throws. When Rex Chapman starts singing Barnum and Bailey circus music on the broadcast, you have a pretty good idea of what it looked like on the court.
The same could be said for Detroit. This was their third unit as well, and the execution wasn’t exactly pretty on that side either.
With time running out, the Suns put together a late 8-2 run to tie the game. Jamaree Bouyea brought the ball down the floor with 24 seconds left, nearly losing it before recovering and knocking down a three to pull the Suns within 107–105. On the ensuing inbound, Kennedy Chandler came up with the steal and found Koa Peat, who threw it down to tie the game at 107 with 12.1 seconds remaining.
Detroit got the ball back, and rookie Ebuka Okorie went left and finished at the rim with 5.8 seconds remaining, putting the Pistons ahead 109–107. Jamaree Bouyea had one final opportunity, hoisting a three as time expired. It hit the rim and bounced out. Ballgame.
Up Next
Phoenix heads to the Windy City to play the Chicago Bulls for Game 2 of the preseason. We’ll see you then!
