Deandre Ayton had 28 points (20 in the paint) and 12 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns went on a 9-0 run in the third quarter to beat the Detroit Pistons 108-102.
The Pistons led 73-72 with 5:42 left in the third quarter. Mikal Bridges’ corner 3-pointer put the Suns ahead for good with 4:52 left in the quarter. He made 2 3-pointers, both on passes from Devin Booker during the run, and they led 81-73 with 3:27 left in the quarter.
The Pistons got within 94-93 on Killian Hayes’ 2 free throws with 4:53 to play, but Cameron Payne answered with a free throw, and the Pistons got no closer.
During clutch time, the Suns outscored the Pistons 14-5. Ayton scored 8 of the Suns’ 14 on 2 for 2 shooting and 4 for 5 at the line. In the fourth quarter, Hayes had 3 steals, 1 of them during an 8-0 Pistons run, and the Pistons scored 4 points off them.
Booker scored 21 points. Payne assisted on 6 of Ayton’s 11 baskets.
For the Pistons, Bojan Bogdanovic scored 19 points (10 in the paint).
The Suns shot 48.3% from the field to the Pistons’ 42.4%. The Pistons turned it over 19 times, about 5 more than usual for this many possessions. The Pistons’ starters were outscored 46-36 in 17 minutes together.