The Phoenix Suns have been one of the season’s most surprising stories - a team without overwhelming star power, but with a level of consistency and intensity that’s kept them competitive every night. That trend continued Thursday, even in a narrow 108-105 loss to the Detroit Pistons. And they did it without Devin Booker, who sat out with the ankle injury he suffered earlier in the week against Miami.
Despite missing their offensive engine, the Suns controlled much of the game, holding the lead for long stretches against a Pistons squad that recently got key players Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren back in the lineup. But just like in their previous loss to the Heat, the fourth quarter proved to be their undoing.
This time, it wasn’t just execution that tripped them up - it was the physical tone of the game and how it was officiated down the stretch. Phoenix struggled to get anything going offensively in the final frame, managing just 15 points. Head coach Jordan Ott didn’t mince words when asked about the physicality and the free-throw disparity.
“In the fourth quarter, it became football,” Ott said postgame. “The free throws hurt us.”
Detroit went to the line 14 times in the fourth quarter, while the Suns didn’t shoot a single free throw. Now, to be fair, six of those Pistons attempts came off intentional fouls as Phoenix tried to extend the game late. But even accounting for that, the imbalance was noticeable - and impactful.
“I looked up and their first foul was like two minutes left in the 4th quarter,” Ott added, clearly frustrated but measured in his response.
The Suns’ offense thrives on rhythm and ball movement, and when the game gets overly physical - especially without their best shot-creator in Booker - it can grind their attack to a halt. That’s exactly what happened in the fourth.
Still, Ott isn’t leaning on officiating as a crutch. His message was clear: no excuses.
“I know how hard we play and how hard they play,” he said. “I know the stats where they've been all season.
"In the 4th quarter, it became football. The free throws hurt us."
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 16, 2026
Jordan Ott after Detroit attempted 14 FTs (made 6) in 4th and Phoenix didn't get a FTA in 108-105 loss.
PFs: Detroit 1. Phoenix 9. Pistons lead NBA in most personal fouls per game at 22.6.
"I looked up and… pic.twitter.com/zmP0FIcqTz
We don’t make any excuses. We play these guys again soon.
It’s going to be the same dogfight, and that’s where we’ll get better. We’ll keep continuing to get better.”
That rematch is circled on the calendar - January 29th, the final meeting between these two teams this season. If Thursday’s battle was any indication, it’s going to be another gritty, high-intensity matchup. And for a Suns team that’s been punching above its weight all year, it’s another opportunity to prove that effort, execution, and toughness can still carry you a long way - even when the whistle doesn’t go your way.