PHOENIX – The scoreboard at Mortgage Matchup Center at halftime told a simple story as the Phoenix Suns were in command. Phoemix dropped a total of 72 points in the first half, although the deeper truth of how they were able to do so was more interesting.
PHOENIX – The scoreboard at Mortgage Matchup Center at halftime told a simple story as the Phoenix Suns were in command. Phoemix dropped a total of 72 points in the first half, although the deeper truth of how they were able to do so was more interesting.
Jan 29, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (right) drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons forward Wendell Moore Jr. in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Suns came into Thursday night without their two star scorers, Devin Booker and Jalen Green. Yet, the Suns looked connected, sharp, and ahead of the play against Detroit. This wasn’t a hot-shooting fluke; it was a clinic in structure.
Jan 29, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) defends against Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Suns HC Jordan Ott’s game plan leaned into pace and trust. Early actions flowed seamlessly into secondary reads. The ball didn’t stick; it moved with intent. Phoenix turned every Pistons coverage decision into a question, and the answers kept coming from unexpected places. Grayson Allen thrived as a sharpshooter, spacing the floor and attacking tilted defenses. Collin Gillespie and Jamaree Bouyea controlled tempo, combining for efficient possessions that valued decision-making over heroics. Oso Ighodaro quietly anchored the middle in transition with stellar assists and defended without chasing stats. This was role-player excellence, not role-player survival.
Jan 29, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) passes the ball against Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Then there was Dillon Brooks. His intensity to kick start Thursday night’s game wasn’t just visible, it was contagious. Early vocal leadership alongside purposeful aggression is what Brooks brings to the culture of the Suns. Brooks didn’t dominate the box score in the beginning but he sure dominated the emotional temperature of the game to kickstart it. Phoenix followed his edge, matching Detroit’s physicality before Detroit could weaponize it. When Phoenix commits to movement, shared responsibility, and emotional leadership, they’re not just competitive, they’re dangerous. It matters far beyond one halftime score, and especially when you are playing the best team in the Eastern Conference.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
Category: General Sports
