Pistons Stumble in Phoenix as Dillon Brooks Drops 40; Quick Turnaround vs. Warriors Tonight
This one was decided by numbers, not narratives — and the numbers were brutal.
The Pistons did several things well in Phoenix. They won the turnover battle, owned the paint, and stayed physically engaged. But none of that mattered because the shooting — especially from three — completely collapsed. Detroit shot 6-of-29 from deep (21%), the bench went 0-for-10, and what’s normally a strength became a liability in a 114–96 loss to the Suns.
When the perimeter disappears, the math catches up fast.
Stat Capsule 🏀
Final: Suns 114, Pistons 96
Records: DET 34–12 | PHX 29–19
Shooting
- FG: DET 43% (37–87) | PHX 47% (37–79)
- 3PT: DET 6–29 (21%) | PHX 16–42 (38%)
- FT: DET 16–21 (76%) | PHX 24–29 (83%)
Possession & Interior Play
- Turnovers: DET 9 | PHX 17
- Points in the Paint: DET 54 | PHX 36
- Rebounds: DET 37 | PHX 47
- Bench 3PT: DET 0–10
Individual Leaders
- Jalen Duren: 23 PTS, 13 REB (10–11 FG)
- Cade Cunningham: 26 PTS, 7 AST (8–22 FG, 2–9 3PT)
- Dillon Brooks: 40 PTS (13–22 FG)
When the Shots Don’t Fall, Everything Shrinks
Detroit’s game plan wasn’t broken — it was incomplete.
The Pistons consistently got downhill and punished Phoenix inside, piling up 54 points in the paint and forcing 17 Suns turnovers. On most nights, that interior pressure creates spacing and rhythm.
It didn’t here.
Detroit’s perimeter shooting never stabilized, allowing Phoenix to load the lane late and take away second options. The bench misfires were especially damaging — 0-for-10 from three eliminates any margin for error.
Rebounding didn’t help either. Phoenix won that battle 47–37, compounding the problem.
Dillon “The Villian” Brooks Took Over
Now, it’s a fact that Brooks is the kind of player who, if on your team, you love him.
I don’t. But that doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. He was everywhere.
Going into the game, I wasn’t expecting him to deliver a career-high 40 points, scoring at all three levels and setting the tone early. Detroit never truly slowed him, and Phoenix rode that first-half momentum to a 72-point opening half — an uncharacteristic breakdown for a Pistons defense that’s been reliable most of the season.
He’s a very good player, who had an unbelievable night.
Cade’s Night: Production Without Efficiency
Cade Cunningham finished with 26 points and 7 assists, but this wasn’t one of his sharper outings. He shot 8-for-22 overall and 2-for-9 from three, forcing some looks late as Detroit tried to claw back.
The effort was there. The efficiency wasn’t.
This was one of those nights where Cade had to carry volume because the shooting around him evaporated — and Phoenix was comfortable living with contested jumpers instead of paint pressure.
Duren Was the Constant
If there was a clear positive, it was Jalen Duren.
Duren was dominant inside, finishing 10-of-11, grabbing 13 boards, and consistently creating second chances. He did exactly what Detroit needed — but without perimeter support, even that wasn’t enough to swing the game.
Big Picture: A Shooting Night, Not a Trend
Detroit is still the No. 1 seed in the East, and this loss says more about variance than vulnerability. You don’t shoot 21% from three, lose the rebounding battle, and win many games — especially on the road.
Injury note:
- Caris LeVert missed the game due to illness. He hasn’t played much lately, and he’s not making the contributions he was earlier in the season.
No Time to Sit With It: Warriors Tonight
The Pistons now head to San Francisco for a national TV matchup against the Golden State Warriors tonight at 10:00 PM ET on ESPN.
The fix is straightforward:
- Shoot it better
- Finish possessions
- Defend the arc
Detroit has responded well to losses all season. This is another chance to prove it.
Info gathered from team reports, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.
