DETROIT — The scoreboard said loss, but the Phoenix Suns’ first look at their 2026-27 roster gave fans a few things to like, and one very familiar sight.
Phoenix opened its preseason Monday night at Little Caesars Arena by building a 19-point lead, then dropped a 109-107 decision to the Detroit Pistons after both teams pulled their regulars for the second half, the Detroit Free Press reported.
How it slipped away
The Suns led 68-50 at halftime and were still up 79-60 with 8:52 left in the third quarter. Detroit then closed the period on a 24-5 run, tying it at 84 on a contested 3-pointer by Daniss Jenkins, and outscored Phoenix 34-16 in the quarter. Pistons rookie Ebuka Okorie, the 17th overall pick in June, scored the go-ahead layup with 5.8 seconds left and then contested Jamaree Bouyea’s 3-point try at the buzzer, according to the Free Press.
Free throws hurt. Phoenix made just 17 of 33 attempts (51.5%), FanSided’s Valley of the Suns noted, with rookies Koa Peat and Khaman Maluach going a combined 0-for-6. The Suns shot 54.5% in the first half but cooled to 41.2% after the break.
Who stood out
Devin Booker, who sat the second half, led Phoenix with 13 points. Jalen Green, coming off an injury-plagued first season in the Valley, looked explosive and added 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting, including an alley-oop from Miles Bridges. Bridges, a new addition from Charlotte, had 8 points, five rebounds and four assists. Jordan Goodwin, re-signed this offseason, led the team with six rebounds and added three steals off the bench.
The Villain returns
Less than five minutes in, Dillon Brooks and new Pistons forward John Collins got tangled up while battling for position. Brooks was hit with a technical foul, and after a replay review Collins was assessed a flagrant-1; the Free Press reported Collins briefly grabbed Brooks around the throat before shoving him away, and teammates and coaches separated the two. Brooks led the NBA in technical fouls last season.
Phoenix played the game without center Mark Williams, who is sidelined by a torn labrum in his shoulder. Detroit held out newly signed center Jalen Duren as he works back from a contract standoff.
What’s next
Coach Jordan Ott’s group has the rest of the preseason to sort out rotations before the regular season begins later this month. Monday’s game was the Suns’ first since being swept by Oklahoma City in the playoffs last spring.
Photo: Coreyfein01 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). File photo of the interior of Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, 2017.