Pistons Survive Early Scare, Rally Late to Edge Suns 108-105
It wasn’t pretty. In fact, for long stretches on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena, it was downright ugly. But in the NBA, they don’t ask how, they ask how many. And right now, the Detroit Pistons are stacking wins regardless of the aesthetics.
Facing a Phoenix Suns team missing superstar Devin Booker, this had all the makings of a “trap game” for the Eastern Conference leaders. And for three quarters, Detroit looked ready to walk right into that trap. Trailing by as many as 16 points in the first half and staring at a deficit heading into the final frame, the Pistons had to dig deep into their reserve of grit to pull out a dramatic 108-105 victory.
This is the type of game the “old” Detroit squad would have let slip away. But at 29-10, sitting atop the East, this group is built differently. They found a way to win on a night when their franchise star couldn’t buy a bucket, relying on veteran savvy and dominance on the glass to secure their fourth win in five games.
Resilience Defines These New-Look Pistons
The narrative of this game shifted midway through the fourth quarter. The energy in the building changed from anxiety to belief. While the box score will show a balanced scoring effort, the emotional anchor of the night was undoubtedly Jalen Duren.
Duren was a monster in the paint, reminding everyone why he is considered one of the most physically imposing young centers in the league. He finished with 16 points and cleaned the glass for a massive 18 rebounds. His presence gave the Pistons second and third chances when shots weren’t falling, effectively demoralizing a smaller Suns lineup down the stretch. Every time Phoenix tried to pull away, Duren was there to tip a ball back out or slam home a putback.
“We just kept fighting,” is a cliché in locker rooms, but on Thursday, it was the reality. Detroit chipped away, possession by grueling possession, refusing to let the hot shooting of the Suns bury them early.
Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson Carry the Load
With Cade Cunningham struggling mightily from the field, the Pistons needed scoring from elsewhere, and they got it from their veterans. Duncan Robinson provided the spark, dropping a team-high 19 points. His movement off the ball disoriented the Phoenix defense, creating lanes that simply weren’t there in the first quarter.
However, the highlight of the night belonged to Tobias Harris. With the game in the balance and the clock ticking down in the fourth, Harris found himself isolated against Dillon Brooks—one of the league’s peskiest defenders. Harris didn’t panic. He rose and buried a jumper over Brooks’ outstretched hand to give the Pistons the lead for good. It was a “big brother” move, a shot hit by a guy who has been in that fire a thousand times before. Harris finished the game as a calming presence, helping steer the ship when the waters got choppy.
Surviving the Grayson Allen Heater
If Detroit fans have nightmares tonight, Grayson Allen will be the star. With Booker sidelined due to an ankle injury, Allen stepped into the void and absolutely torched the nets. He looked like he was throwing rocks into the ocean, finishing with a game-high 33 points.
The first half was the Grayson Allen show. He poured in 21 points before the break, including a blistering first quarter where he knocked down three triples and—surprisingly—blocked three shots. He single-handedly built the Suns’ lead, silencing the Detroit crowd repeatedly. Every time the Pistons made a run, Allen seemed to answer with a dagger.
But Detroit’s defense tightened in the fourth. They started running Allen off the line, forcing the ball into the hands of Collin Gillespie (18 points) and Royce O’Neale. It wasn’t a perfect defensive performance, but they got stops when it mattered most, including a frantic final sequence where Allen’s desperation three at the buzzer didn’t fall.
Cade Cunningham leads without scoring
You can tell a lot about a player by how they handle an off night. Cade Cunningham had a night to forget shooting the basketball. He missed 13 of his 16 attempts, went 0-for-7 from deep, and struggled from the free-throw line.
In years past, this performance might have tanked the team. Instead, Cunningham pivoted. He stopped forcing the issue and started dissecting the defense with his passing. He finished with 11 assists, setting the table for Robinson and Harris. He trusted his teammates to carry the scoring load while he focused on floor generalship. It was a mature performance from the franchise cornerstone—realizing that on a night when his shot is broken, he could still be the reason they won.
What’s Next for Detroit
The Pistons escape this one with a sigh of relief. They remain firmly in the driver’s seat of the Eastern Conference, a sentence that still feels surreal to say after the struggles of the last few years.
They don’t have much time to celebrate, though. They host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night in what promises to be a pace-pushing shootout. But for tonight, Detroit proved that they don’t need to play perfect basketball to win. They just need to play tougher basketball than the other guys. And right now, few teams are tougher than the Detroit Pistons.
