Grayson Allen Steps Up, Suns Show Grit in Gritty Loss to Pistons
DETROIT - On a night when the Phoenix Suns were missing their two top scorers, it was Grayson Allen who seized the spotlight. With Devin Booker and Jalen Green both sidelined, Allen delivered a statement performance, dropping 33 points and keeping the Suns competitive in a physical, grind-it-out battle against the Detroit Pistons.
This one had an old-school feel to it. The first half was chippy, the second half even more intense.
It wasn’t quite the throwback to the Bad Boys era of the late '80s and early '90s, but the physicality definitely echoed those days. And the Suns didn’t back down.
In fact, they leaned into the fight - especially on the defensive end.
Dillon Brooks has brought a new edge to this Phoenix team, and it showed. His defensive mindset seems to be rubbing off across the roster, and that collective effort paid off against one of the East’s rising stars.
Cade Cunningham, Detroit’s offensive engine, was held to just 10 points on 3-of-16 shooting. That wasn’t a fluke - it was the result of relentless pressure and smart rotations.
The Suns forced 17 turnovers and racked up 14 steals, turning defense into offense and keeping themselves in the game despite the absences and adversity.
But the whistles didn’t do Phoenix any favors. Grayson Allen, who led the charge in the first half, was hit with a technical early in the third quarter - his fourth personal foul - which changed the rhythm of the game.
Foul trouble piled up for the Suns, with both Allen and Brooks having to navigate the second half carefully. That’s a tough ask when you’re already without your primary shot creators.
Even so, Phoenix kept swinging. They won the turnover battle, pushed the pace on defense, and stayed aggressive.
But without Booker or Green to lean on in crunch time, the margin for error was razor thin. The Pistons, playing with confidence and physicality of their own, made the most of their opportunities and closed things out.
Still, there’s a silver lining here for Phoenix. This was a matchup against one of the East’s top teams, and the Suns didn’t flinch.
They came in short-handed, took some punches, and gave some right back. Grayson Allen’s performance wasn’t just a hot shooting night - it was a clear sign that he can shoulder more responsibility when the moment calls for it.
And defensively, this team is starting to forge an identity that travels - even into hostile, hard-nosed environments like Detroit.
Booker’s return may be on the horizon, and when he’s back in the lineup, Phoenix will have a deeper understanding of what they’re capable of when their backs are against the wall. Thursday night may not have ended in a win, but it showed exactly the kind of fight this group has - and that’s something you can build on.