The Phoenix Suns likely will be without their top scorer once again when they face the Pistons on Saturday night in Detroit. Another starter’s status is in question, too.
Devin Booker is expected to miss his 21st consecutive game due to a left groin strain, though he ramped up his on-court work this week.
Forward Cameron Johnson sat out Phoenix’s 106-94 road win over the Boston Celtics on Friday due to what the team described as right knee injury management.
The Suns still beat the team with the league’s best record behind a strong defensive effort. The Celtics were held to 38.7 percent shooting from the field and 26.3 percent from 3-point range.
Mikal Bridges led Phoenix’s offense with 25 points. The Suns have won seven of their past nine games.
Phoenix’s Chris Paul had 15 points and eight assists, while Dario Saric supplied his first double-double since March 2020 with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Detroit will also be playing the tail end of a back-to-back set. The Pistons pulled out a 118-112 home victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday despite committing 23 turnovers that led to 30 Hornets points.
Jaden Ivey led the Pistons with 24 points and seven assists.
It was an eventful week for the Pistons. They lost in Dallas on Monday night, then got stuck there until Thursday afternoon due to poor weather conditions and mechanical issues with their plane. Their scheduled home game against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday was postponed.
With the score tied at 112 on Friday, Detroit’s Saddiq Bey hit a corner 3-pointer with 32 seconds left. Bey finished with 22 points off the bench.
Rookie center Jalen Duren continued to impress with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Detroit will be seeking its first pair of consecutive wins since Nov. 22-23, when it defeated the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz on the road.
The Suns won the first meeting with the Pistons 108-102 on Nov. 25 in Phoenix. Deandre Ayton led the way with 28 points and 12 rebounds.
