The Detroit Pistons conclude their preseason home-and-home series against the Phoenix Suns with a game in the West that ends at 10:00 p.m. ET. The first game had a lot more going for Phoenix than Detroit. Suns owner Mat Ishbia, who won a national championship with Michigan State, was in attendance, and Suns guard Devin Booker treated it like a homecoming as the Grand Rapids native gifted the basketball team custom sneakers. The Suns also easily eked out a win thanks to strong games from Kevin Durant and Booker and strong defense everywhere on the court.

Game Vitalities

When: 10 p.m. ET
Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Regard: Bally Sports Detroit
Opportunities: Piston +3.5

analysis

For the Pistons, the returns weren't nearly as solid. After Detroit shone in almost all phases of a win in the first game against the Bucks, there were mostly scuffles in the second game. The team shot just 30% from deep, had an assist-to-turnover ratio of less than two-to-one and didn't provide the defensive intensity it needed to be competitive.

Cade Cunningham had eight assists and orchestrated the others well enough, but he had a hard time navigating all the defensive attention he was receiving. The ball was easily taken away from him once, he failed at the rim several times and was just 1 of 6 from the field.

Jalen Duren once again showed that despite being more active, he lacks some key defensive instincts, Ron Holland struggled to score, and Marcus Sasser struggled to look like a true backup point guard.

However, fundamentally, each game can rise or fall depending on the veterans' ability to hit threes. In the first game against the Suns, Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Simone Fontecchio combined to shoot 4 of 14 from distance. That won't do it.

Harris, who missed the preseason due to COVID-19, could make his debut tonight. Interestingly, when I looked at Harris' outstanding ability to dress up and avoid injuries this offseason, I noted that he has only missed more than three games in a row once since 2015-16. That was also because he had COVID in 2021 and found himself in the league's health and safety protocols.

Planned lineups

Detroit Pistons (1-1)

Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Simone Fontecchio, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Phoenix Suns (2-0)

Tyus Jones, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant, Mason Plumlee

Question of the day

Because I assume Devin Booker wants to know: Will the Gritty Detroit Tigers win the decisive game against the Cleveland Guardians?