The Phoenix Suns defeated the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons 114-96, after Dillon Brooks scored a career-high 40 points on Thursday night.
Phoenix kept a comfortable lead through much of the fourth, winning for the fifth time in seven games. They are 10 games above .500 for the first time this season at 29-19.
Brooks finished a layup for a 105-89 lead with 5:43 left, scoring the last of his 40 points. He went 13-for-22 from the field and had eight rebounds on a night when the team gave the first 5,000 fans who entered the arena a shirt that read “Dillon the Villain.”
Suns’ sharpshooter Grayson Allen added 24 points.
Brooks already had 38 points through three quarters, a career high, surpassing his previous best of 37 points for the Grizzlies in 2021.
The Pistons trailed 72-56 at halftime, cut it to 77-74 midway through the third, but the Suns recovered to take a 93-81 advantage into the fourth.
Phoenix made their first four three-pointers and rode the hot shooting to a 72-56 halftime advantage, as Brook already dropped 24 points before the break.
Meanwhile, Devin Booker missed his third straight game with a sprained ankle.
Both teams will play on Friday night, with the Pistons at Golden State and the Suns hosting the Cavaliers.
