Suns win franchise record 18th straight game with victory over Pistons

The Phoenix Suns broke the 2006-07 team’s record of 17 straight wins by beating the Detroit Pistons 114-103 on Thursday night to make it 18 consecutive victories. The last loss came on Oct. 27 vs. the Sacramento Kings.

Phoenix got off to a quick start, leading 30-18 at the end of the first quarter, and never trailed in the ball game after being down 5-4.

The Suns used a 39 point second quarter, 11 of them from backup guard Cam Payne, to take a 69-51 lead at the half.

The Pistons mounted a comeback in the third, outscoring Phoenix 30-18 in the period. Detroit’s Jerami Grant scored 12 in the third and finished with 32 points on the night.

The Suns battled for control in the fourth quarter and outscored Detroit by five, to set a new franchise record of wins despite not having Devin Booker due to a hamstring injury.

Deandre Ayton led the way for Phoenix with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 2 assists, his 10th double-double of the season. Payne and Cam Johnson both added 19 points off the bench.

The red hot Suns team will take the new record of wins into the Bay Area on Friday night against the Golden State Warriors at 8 p.m. for a battle for the best record in the league on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.