Slumping Suns take on mistake-prone Pistons
November 5 – The Phoenix Suns will play their previous coach’s current squad on Sunday for the first time this season, but their main priorities are improving their health and winning a game against the Detroit Pistons.
After the previous season, Monty Williams was let go by Phoenix, and Pistons owner Tom Gores persuaded him to take over as coach with an unprecedented seventy-five million dollar contract over six years. Although the teams faced each other in the preseason, the match will now be factored into the standings.
Bradley Beal and Devin Booker did not participate in the game. Due to an ankle sprain, Booker, who scored 31 points and dished out 13 assists in 35 minutes of play against San Antonio on Thursday, is being gradually added back into the lineup. Beal underwent a rigorous workout on Saturday after missing the entire preseason due to back spasms.
“I am aware of these guys’ intense desire to play,” Suns forward Kevin Durant remarked. “They detest taking a backseat. We desire that they not hurry. We do not want them to sense that they are under any obligation to return (right away). For the remainder of the season, we want them to be completely healthy.”
Durant has to carry the attack in the absence of that pair. In the Sixers game, he scored thirty-one points. No one on his team had more than thirteen.
Beal won’t play on Sunday but Booker could return.
“We’ve got to get used to it,” coach Frank Vogel said. “That’s how this league is. There’s going to be guys in and out of the lineup. Everybody has to stay ready and be able to toggle between roles.”
The Suns will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak on Sunday.
The Pistons have also lost three straight. Like the Suns, they’ve dealt with a number of key injuries.
Veterans Bojan Bogdanovic (calf), Monte Morris (quad) and Isaiah Livers (ankle) haven’t played this season. Key reserve Alec Burks (forearm) sat out against New Orleans on Thursday.
They’ve also dealt with a quirky schedule. They opened the season with road games against Miami and Charlotte, returned to Detroit for their home opener, then flew to Oklahoma City. After returning home to play Portland, they headed to New Orleans for the second game of a back-to-back.
“It has been a really tough schedule to start the season,” Williams said. “I told the guys that the other day. We’ve traveled close to 5,000 miles.”
Turnovers have been a major issue for the Pistons. They are averaging a league-high 17.3 per game. Franchise player Cade Cunningham has been the biggest culprit, averaging 5.5 turnovers.
Cunningham committed six against the Pelicans but also led the club with 22 points and 11 assists. Detroit also got a boost from rookie guard Marcus Sasser, who had 19 points in 23 minutes.
“He’s not afraid to take big shots and defensively, he just battles,” Williams said. “He’s starting to look like a good complement to Cade and Killian (Hayes). Those three guys, they played well together (Thursday).”