Phoenix-suns vs Detroit Pistons Picks and Predictions December 21st 2024

Suns Adjust Without Booker, Face Pistons in Phoenix

The Phoenix Suns will navigate uncharted territory on Saturday night as they face the Detroit Pistons without Devin Booker for the first time this season. The three-time All-Star is sidelined with left groin tightness, disrupting the Suns’ quest for consistency in a season already marked by injuries to their other stars, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.

Suns’ Challenges Without Booker

Booker, who had played in all 26 of Phoenix’s games, is the team’s second-leading scorer at 25.1 points per game while also contributing 6.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds. His absence leaves a void in the Suns’ offense and leadership.

Beal expressed his disappointment after Booker’s injury during Thursday’s 120-111 loss to the Indiana Pacers. “You’re definitely disheartened by it because you never want to see anybody hurt,” Beal said. “But you just got to keep hooping. You got to keep going, keep pushing.”

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Durant, leading the team with 26.4 points per game, will be leaned on heavily, while Tyus Jones (12.5 ppg, team-high 6.9 assists) and Beal (17.7 ppg) must step up to maintain the team’s offensive flow. Jones emphasized the need for a stable team identity regardless of which stars are available.

“We got to do a better job of creating a more general identity,” he said. “All three of them aren’t going to play every night, that’s just the reality of it.”

Pistons Look to Snap Losing Trend

Detroit enters Saturday’s game on a tough stretch, having dropped five of its past seven contests. The Pistons are coming off a disappointing 126-119 home loss to the Utah Jazz on Thursday, a game where they trailed 48-19 after one quarter.

Cade Cunningham was a bright spot for Detroit, scoring 33 points—his third 30-point game of the season—and adding seven assists and four blocks. However, Cunningham acknowledged the need for better starts. “We definitely dug ourselves too deep into a hole,” he said. “It’s hard to come back from that.”

The Pistons may get a boost from shooting guard Jaden Ivey, who is probable to return after missing two games with left knee soreness. However, they will be without big man Isaiah Stewart for a second straight game due to a hyperextended knee.

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Key Matchups and Storylines

1. Durant’s Leadership: With Booker out, Durant will need to shoulder an even greater scoring load while anchoring Phoenix’s offense.
2. Cunningham vs. Suns’ Defense: Cunningham has been Detroit’s most consistent performer, averaging 23.9 points per game. His ability to attack Phoenix’s defense will be crucial.
3. Role Players Step Up: Both teams will look to their supporting casts to fill in the gaps. For Phoenix, this includes Tyus Jones and Beal, while Detroit will rely on Ivey (if healthy) and contributions from the bench.
4. Suns’ Dominance Over Pistons: Phoenix has won seven straight games against Detroit, a streak they’ll aim to extend despite Booker’s absence.

Outlook

Phoenix must find a way to compensate for the loss of their star guard, relying on Durant and Beal to guide the offense. Meanwhile, Detroit will look to capitalize on Phoenix’s adjustments and improve its early-game intensity. Both teams are eager to build momentum as they manage their respective challenges.