The Phoenix Suns closed Summer League at 3-1, finishing with a team plus-minus of +13 across four games after taking down the Pistons 100-88.
This one belonged to the young core. Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koa Peat all made their mark, and Phoenix used a strong first quarter and a strong finish to hold off Detroit after the Pistons had taken control in stretches of the second and third.
Maluach led the way with 23 points, 15 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal, and an 8-for-13 shooting night that included 2-for-5 from 3-point range. Fleming added 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 steal while going 8-for-12 from the field. Peat chipped in 19 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block on 6-for-13 shooting.
Across four Summer League games, Maluach finished at 19.5 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 3.3 STL + BLK, 53% FG, and 40% 3PT.
Phoenix wasted no time setting the tone. The Suns ripped off a 17-3 start behind Fleming and Peat, and an early slam from Man Man sparked a 10-0 burst that forced a Pistons timeout.
By the next stoppage, the Suns were ahead 22-11, and their defense had already smothered Detroit into just 13 first-quarter points. After one, Phoenix led 27-13.
Maluach was a force early, collecting five rebounds in his first nine minutes while also recording a block and that emphatic dunk. The ball kept moving, too, and that created clean looks for Fleming, including a catch-and-shoot three midway through the second quarter for his second triple of the game. Soon after, he got another.
Detroit did claw back before halftime. After Phoenix controlled most of the opening two quarters, the Pistons surged late and trimmed the margin after the Suns had built a comfortable cushion. Even so, Phoenix still carried a 53-46 lead into the break, with Fleming pacing all scorers at 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting.
The Pistons carried that momentum into the third, opening the half with a 13-7 run. Phoenix answered, though, and Maluach helped steady things with a pair of threes as the Suns pushed back in front. He continued to own the paint and the boards, a strong sign of progress for the sophomore big.
After three, Phoenix led 78-74, with Detroit outscoring the Suns by three in the quarter. The game stayed tight for much of the second half, and Peat kept flashing his passing touch in transition, including a no-look dime after a steal. He also left briefly after a hard fall on a blocked shot before returning.
From there, Phoenix finished the job. Just like in its previous game against the Bucks, the Suns closed with authority and pulled away late.
The final word now belongs to the rest of the Summer League field, with Phoenix still waiting to see whether its 3-1 mark is enough to get into the semifinals. Either way, the Suns gave themselves a chance, and their top prospects looked mostly promising along the way.
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