Phoenix Suns start slow drop 1st game of preseason to Pistons.
PHOENIX — Friday night’s 109-91 Phoenix Suns loss to the Detroit Pistons was not a preseason contest they can really build off, unlike their first two.
This defensive effort in the preseason will serve as the example of what they cannot do at any point this year. Detroit set a physical standard early and the Suns declined to match it.
It’s preseason. It’s fine. But we are also in the time of building habits in a new system. And this team especially will have absolutely zero margin for error to have disengaged moments.
Detroit scored 40 points in the first quarter and then was up to 81 points at the 6:16 mark of the third period. While the turnover number for the Suns wasn’t particularly high, the unforced errors sprouted up, which again is a credit to how the Pistons took on this rematch.
“Part of it was Detroit and I think defensively we gotta be a little bit better,” Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer said. “We got to find ways to make it a little bit harder, and some ways maybe be smarter.”
There is nothing worth doing beyond calling it for what it was and attributing that to these being exhibitions. Expect a motivated response on Sunday in Denver, much like what we saw from Detroit.
Devin Booker was out of the lineup due to right ankle soreness, an injury Budenholzer said was the type not worth pushing in the preseason. He expects Booker to be fine, but did not say if Booker will play on Sunday.
Interestingly enough, rookie Ryan Dunn got the nod in his spot. Grayson Allen (personal reasons) did not play as well, and Phoenix’s staff presumably wants Royce O’Neale to maintain a rhythm as a reserve, where his presence will be important as an interchangeable connector.
If a bet was made two weeks ago on if Dunn would have a rotation role from the jump, the smart money would have gone on “no.” Dunn, though, continues to be featured in the preseason alongside the Suns’ star players.
It’s not uncommon for first-year players to find their footing through all-bench lineups and even garbage time. That’s what Mikal Bridges did. Dunn, however, is getting those minutes all while still getting sprinkled into the first half with the likes of Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
“It’s huge,” Suns guard Tyus Jones said of Dunn getting the chance to start. “It’s a good opportunity for him. Even though it is a preseason game, it’s still a good opportunity. Experience. The most valuable thing is the reps and being out there on the court and getting the minutes and getting those live looks. I think it’s big for him, and again, we’re gonna continue to need him, and need him to play well and have those experiences.”
The belief in Dunn is paying off thus far. He’s showing tremendous growth in his confidence to shoot, going from a rather tentative spacer to a guy letting it fly whenever he has the chance. As expected, the defense is stellar, featuring fantastic agility to slide his feet and keep up with quick ball-handlers you’d assume on first glance would be able to get by him. Staying glued to someone through screens the way he does is impressive, and the Suns have not had many players with that skill set over their lengthy history.
Dunn showed out defending Pistons star Cade Cunningham on Tuesday and then stifled him again on Friday.
Cunningham got nowhere in the first couple minutes, and once Dunn sat for a rest, he made his next four shots.
Bumps in the road will come for Dunn. His lack of aggression and some shooting slumps will inevitably flare up during rookie hurdles that arrive at everyone’s doorstep. This was slightly on display Friday, when he was 1-of-5 from 3 and got lost offensively a few times, but he stuck with it through that.
“Just keep competing,” Dunn said. “Like you said, my shot wasn’t falling today but that’s kind of the mentality where I keep letting it fly regardless. Make it up on the other end.”
What Phoenix chooses to do when those stumbles come up will be worth monitoring, as this is a deep team with capable options elsewhere. Riding with it is the best bet given the dire need for what Dunn thrives at, which is exactly why he’s already getting these opportunities.
Durant had a team-high 18 points and Beal added 17. Both played 24 minutes, while Detroit extended its run for key players like Cade Cunningham, who played 31 minutes and ended up with 25 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists on 10-for-16 shooting. Jaden Ivey scored 16 and looked solid again, with a bounce-back year on tap for the former top-five pick after an uneven Year 2 last season.
