Dillon Brooks Catches Fire as Pistons’ Shooting Struggles Persist in Loss to Suns
PHOENIX - The Detroit Pistons ran into a hot hand and a cold spell on Thursday night - a combination that rarely ends well. Dillon Brooks erupted for 40 points, and the Phoenix Suns rode that momentum to a convincing 114-96 win over Detroit, handing the Pistons a frustrating loss on the second leg of their Western Conference road trip.
Brooks, now in his first season with the Suns after an offseason move from Memphis, was locked in from the jump. He shot a blistering 59.1% from the field, punishing Detroit from all areas of the court and setting the tone for a Suns offense that looked comfortable all night.
The Pistons, meanwhile, couldn’t buy a bucket from deep - and that’s putting it kindly. Tobias Harris knocked down three of four from beyond the arc, but the rest of the team combined to go just 3-for-25.
That’s a recipe for disaster in today’s NBA.
Despite the lopsided final score, there were bright spots for Detroit. Cade Cunningham continued his strong play, finishing with 23 points and seven assists, showing poise and creativity even as the offense around him sputtered.
Jalen Duren also had a big night in the paint, recording 23 points and 13 rebounds. But their efforts weren’t enough to overcome the Suns’ offensive rhythm or Detroit’s own perimeter woes.
Phoenix came out firing, hitting 55.8% of their shots in the first half and building a 72-56 lead by halftime. The Suns dominated the 3-point line (47.4% to Detroit’s 26.7%) and controlled the glass on second-chance opportunities (15-6), taking full advantage of Detroit’s defensive lapses and cold shooting.
To their credit, the Pistons showed some fight to open the second half. They ripped off an 18-5 run to cut the deficit to just three points, 77-74, with a little over seven minutes left in the third quarter.
But just when it looked like Detroit might flip the script, the Suns responded with a 16-3 run of their own. Brooks capped the surge with a pair of free throws, pushing his point total to 38 and stretching Phoenix’s lead back to 16.
The Pistons tried to mount another comeback early in the fourth, using a 10-3 run to claw back within single digits. Defensively, they tightened up, holding Phoenix to just 36.8% shooting in the third quarter.
But the offense never found its rhythm. Royce O’Neale’s corner triple midway through the fourth pushed Phoenix’s lead to 14, and that was essentially the dagger.
Playoff Picture Tightens
The loss drops Detroit to 34-12, trimming their cushion in the Eastern Conference standings. They now sit just 5½ games ahead of both the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, with the Cleveland Cavaliers also inching closer in the Central Division race. There’s no time to dwell - the Pistons head to San Francisco next to face the Golden State Warriors on Friday night, wrapping up a three-game West Coast swing.
Three-Point Shooting Remains a Red Flag
This wasn’t just a bad shooting night - it’s becoming a trend. The Pistons have now posted three of their six worst 3-point shooting performances of the season in their last four games.
Against Phoenix, they shot just 20.7% from deep. That followed a 6-for-31 (19.4%) outing in a narrow win over Denver and a 7-for-32 (21.9%) night against Houston.
It’s clear that perimeter shooting is a growing concern. While Detroit has the size and talent to compete inside - as Duren’s performance shows - they’re going to need more consistent spacing and shot-making to stay atop the East as the season grinds on. When a team like Phoenix starts hot from deep, as they did by hitting five of their first seven attempts, it puts added pressure on the Pistons to respond - and right now, they’re not hitting enough shots to keep pace.
What’s Next
With one more stop on this road trip, the Pistons have a chance to bounce back quickly. But the shooting slump is no longer just a blip - it’s a pattern. And as the playoff race tightens, Detroit will need to find answers from beyond the arc if they want to maintain their edge in the standings.