Cade Cunningham led the Detroit Pistons to a 133-125 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night, scoring 28 points and dishing out 13 assists. The Pistons improved to 12-17, with Cunningham playing a pivotal role in their win at home.
Detroit’s offense was firing on all cylinders, with seven players finishing in double figures. Jaden Ivey added 20 points, Malik Beasley contributed 18, and Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 16. The Pistons never trailed after the early minutes, jumping out to a 41-26 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Phoenix struggled with turnovers throughout the game, committing 19 in total. Despite shooting nearly 62% from the field over the first three quarters, the Suns couldn’t overcome their mistakes. Kevin Durant’s 43-point performance on 14-of-26 shooting kept Phoenix in the game, but it wasn’t enough. Bradley Beal added 26 points, but the Suns could not close the gap.
The Suns, who were without Devin Booker due to a groin injury, showed resilience by cutting the Pistons’ lead to 122-119 with 2:26 left in the game. However, Malik Beasley hit a timely corner three-pointer to halt Phoenix’s momentum and keep Detroit’s lead intact.
Cunningham’s clutch 3-pointer with 33.8 seconds remaining pushed the Pistons’ lead to seven, securing the victory. Detroit’s defense, which forced the Suns into 19 turnovers, played a key role in the win.
Phoenix, now 14-13, has struggled in recent weeks, having lost 12 of their last 18 games after a hot 8-1 start to the season. The absence of Booker certainly contributed to their struggles, but turnovers and defensive lapses were major factors in the loss.
For Detroit, the win marks their third in the past five games. Jalen Duren was also a force, recording a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
