What we learned as Phoenix Suns' poor defense lead to loss to Pistons

The Phoenix Suns were looking to build off a win over Portland, get some rest and return to full strength for the final two of a three-game homestand against two sub .500 teams.

They instead lost Devin Booker to a groin injury and dropped a second consecutive game Saturday, 133-125, to the Detroit Pistons (12-17) after falling Thursday to the Pacers.

The Suns (14-13) were once again doomed by turnovers, committing 19 Saturday for 34 Detroit points two days after Indiana (13-15) scored 29 points off 16 Phoenix turnovers.

Kevin Durant scored a season-high 43 points but committed eight turnovers after having five turnovers Friday against Indiana. Bradley Beal went for 26 points while Tyus Jones added 19 on 7-of-8 shooting.

Here are three takeaways as the Suns look to bounce back Monday at Denver before facing the Nuggets again on Christmas. Phoenix is now 11^th in the West after just being sixth before Thursday’s game against the Pacers.

Injury update

Grayson Allen took a blow to the back of the head late from Pistons forward Simone Fontecchio, who caught him with an elbow in the third quarter when scoring on a putback of an offensive rebound.

Staying on the floor and taking a minute or so to rise, Allen didn’t return to the game after heading to the locker room with 2:10 left in the third. The Suns could be without Allen on Monday.

Bol Bol didn’t play Saturday due to a left knee contusion suffered in practice, Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said. He has played in only seven games this season, but the 7-footer is someone who was productive last season when he played.

Then there’s Booker, who has already been ruled out for Monday’s game. Booker will be re-evaluated early next week.

So the Suns could be down three players just two days after being full strength going into Thursday’s game.

Defense, turnovers dooms Suns, again

A team that shoots 57.7% from the field, going 14-of-29 from 3 in scoring 125 points, shouldn’t lose, but the Suns are a bad defensive team, particularly against the 3.

Phoenix is 24^th in defensive rating. Only Chicago, Portland, Brooklyn, New Orleans, Washington and Utah are worse. Those teams all have losing records; Phoenix is only a game above .500.

Detroit came into the game shooting 35.8% from 3 but they made six more 3s than their average in shooting 19-of-39 Saturday.

The Suns are now 26^th in defending the 3 as far as percentage after allowing the Pistons to light them up at home.

The turnovers are putting their defense in bad positions, but the Suns have bad floor balance and don’t close out well on 3s. The Suns felt as if they forced tougher 3s later in the game, but the Pistons were shooting those with the same confidence.

Budenholzer preaches individual 1-on-1 defense, but the Suns struggle with that, particularly on the perimeter. When the Pistons got into the paint, they either finished with lob dunks or kick outs for 3s.

Cunningham closer

Being the top overall pick in the 2021 draft put initial pressure on Cade Cunningham to play at a high level.

He had his share of setbacks on a bad team, and some growing pains, but has also been taking steps forward as a player in trying to show he can be a point guard.

Cunningham showed and proved it Saturday in his 28-point, 13-assist performance, with the ability to not only dictate the game but put away a playoff team that wouldn’t even make the play-in if the playoffs started today.

Crazy right?

Cunningham scored 13 of his 28 in the fourth going at Jones and even Durant. He put the game away with a 3 to put Detroit ahead, 130-123, with 32.9 seconds left.

Detroit is on the right track to return to respectability under J.B. Bickerstaff. Cunningham will have a say in that and receive that All-Star nod when that time comes.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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