PHOENIX SUNS

Deandre Ayton’s monster night leads Suns to win over Pistons

Feb 4, 2023, 6:19 PM | Updated: 7:26 pm
Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) drives on Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) in the first...

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) drives on Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

The Phoenix Suns’ starters carried the load Saturday night for a 116-100 win over the Detroit Pistons, thanks to a game-high 31 points from center Deandre Ayton.

Ayton added to his monster night with 16 rebounds and two assists while shooting an efficient 13-of-15 from the field (86.6%).

Phoenix’s starters scored a combined 91 points behind Mikal Bridges’ 24, Cam Johnson’s 20 and Torrey Craig’s 14. Chris Paul had two points but contributed 14 assists and was a plus-24 while on the court.

Ayton’s efficiency was heavily aided by Paul all night, including a smooth pick-and-roll pass that set the big man up for an easy dunk.

Additionally, the big man was stepping out from under the hoop and showcasing his range hitting from all around the paint, knocking down a jumper from the elbow.

Johnson returned to the court on Saturday after missing the last game against the Boston Celtics for rest as he eases back into conditioning from his meniscus surgery.

He did not miss a beat, adding 20 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the field and knocking down three of his four long-range attempts.

The Pistons bench outscored Phoenix 38-24 in the contest, led by guard Hamidou Diallo (25 points) and forward Saddiq Bey (nine) with 34 combined points.

Diallo, as well as the veteran forward Bojan Bogdanovic (23 points), were a major reason that Phoenix had to battle with the Pistons to put them away.

But Phoenix’s starters were ultimately too much for Detroit, with four players scoring 14 or more points.

Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on March 22, 2023 in Los...
Dan Bickley

Suns crying foul hints at problems between their ears

The Suns have been tagged as a flopping, foul-hunting, fall-down-after-every-shot kind of team. You don’t think that comes with consequences?
15 hours ago
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns takes a shot against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half ...
Kellan Olson

Suns let another winnable game slip away, lose to Lakers

The Phoenix Suns keep letting winnable games slip away in uncharacteristic ways and have now lost five of their last six.
15 hours ago
Head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns looks on in the first quarter during their game again...
Kellan Olson

Monty Williams says officiating vs. Suns is not fair after loss to Lakers

Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams sounded off on the officiating after a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.
15 hours ago
Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George, right, lies on the court after an injury during the secon...
Associated Press

Clippers’ Paul George out 2-3 weeks with sprained right knee

Paul George has a sprained right knee and the Los Angeles Clippers All-Star will be re-evaluated in two to three weeks.
2 days ago
Devin Booker #1 and Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns look on during the third quarter against the ...
Kellan Olson

What happened to the Phoenix Suns in the clutch this season?

The Phoenix Suns went from a historically good team in the clutch last season to a bad one this year. What happened?
2 days ago
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, drives around Phoenix Suns forward Torr...
Kevin Zimmerman

What’s at stake in each of the Suns’ remaining games?

Kevin Durant's potential return from an ankle injury after a reevaluation sits a week out for the Phoenix Suns.
3 days ago
Deandre Ayton’s monster night leads Suns to win over Pistons