Suns struggle immensely without Booker, Warren in loss to Detroit
Mar 20, 2018, 10:00 PM | Updated: 10:16 pm
Phoenix Suns guard Tyler Ulis (8) passes the ball as Detroit Pistons forward Stanley Johnson (7) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
PHOENIX — With Devin Booker and T.J. Warren, the Phoenix Suns have their own struggles as they look to avoid finishing with the worst record in the NBA.
Without them, they are worse. Much worse.
So, with Booker out due to a right hand sprain and Warren missing the game because of left knee inflammation, it was no surprise to see the Detroit Pistons come to Phoenix Tuesday and coast to a 115-88 win over the Suns.
The lack of scoring for Phoenix without the two was apparent.
Josh Jackson tried to do his part to fill in the gaps, taking 19 shots and scoring 15 points.
But he didn’t have much help.
Alex Len had a nice night, posting a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds as a roll man and body around the basket.
“I liked the way Alex played,” Suns head coach Jay Triano said after the game. “He was solid on the glass and rolling to the basket.”
There was no other real offensive support beyond Troy Daniels’ 18.
At one point with under three minutes left in the third quarter, the Suns only had two bench points, and Jared Dudley had all two of them.
The Suns shot 7-of-34 from three-point range.
Elfrid Payton was the clear player the Suns needed to step up in what was a very lethargic game, but he was nowhere to be found.
He finished with four points, three rebounds and five assists in 22 minutes. Less than four minutes into the second half, Payton was pulled for Tyler Ulis after ball-watching on defense.
“I didn’t think we were getting much out of Elfrid,” Triano said of the decision. “He’s not the only one who got pulled for stuff like that so it’s not like I’m picking on him. It’s just the way we are going to play. If you don’t do the right thing, I’m going to take you out.”
Payton would return over 15 minutes into the game later, but still showed the same lack of energy defensively.
It was anything but an inspiring first half.
Detroit looked like they were sleepwalking through most of it, Blake Griffin included, but Griffin managed 16 points on eight shots and the Pistons led 44-38. He finished with 28 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.
Detroit’s effort level speaks to the fact the Suns only trailed by six points despite shooting 2-of-18 from three-point range and having only two bench points.
In the second half, Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy seemed to get his point across at halftime, as the Pistons came out with enough solid play to take control of the game. It wasn’t much, but it was enough, and all of a sudden they were up by 20 points midway through the third quarter.
As you might imagine, the Suns lacked any sort of offensive firepower to mount a comeback and Detroit was able to cruise to a win.
The Suns have now lost nine straight and 24 of their last 26 games.
UP NEXT
The Suns don’t play again until Friday when they take on the Cavaliers in Cleveland.
The action starts at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN 620 AM.
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