Suns shake off Booker's early ejection, roll past Pistons
PHOENIX (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 25 points and the Phoenix Suns overcame fellow All-Star Devin Booker's early ejection to rout Detroit 116-100 on Wednesday night in Pistons coach Monty Williams first game in Phoenix since being fired by the Suns.
Williams coached the Suns from 2019 through last season, leading them to the NBA Finals in 2021. He received a video tribute and a loud ovation from the sellout crowd before the game.
Booker was ejected 5:24 into the game after his second technical foul. He received the first technical for arguing with officials about a foul call against him. During a subsequent timeout and, after the Pistons’ Cade Cunningham shot free throws, Booker received the second one and an automatic ejection. Booker finished with seven points on 2-of-5 shooting.
Suns coach Frank Vogel also received a technical for arguing Booker’s ejection. There were 51 fouls called in the game — 31 on Detroit.
Saben Lee scored 16 points and Eric Gordon had 13 points for Phoenix, with guard Bradley Beal sidelined after straining his left hamstring Tuesday night in a victory over Sacramento. Jusuf Nurkic had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Simone Fontecchio led Detroit with 18 points. Every player who suited up for each team saw playing time in the final game for each squad before the All-Star break.
The Suns led 14-13 when Booker was tossed, then outscored Detroit 23-12 the rest of the quarter and pulled away in the second period for a 70-41 halftime edge. Their biggest lead in the game was 35 points.
Durant, who didn’t play in the fourth quarter, led the Suns in the first half with 12 points. Gordon, starting for , scored 10 points and Lee also had 10.
Drew Eubanks, who was involved in a pregame altercation with injured Pistons center Isaiah Stewart, had six points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes.
Eubanks said Stewart punched him at the arena hours before the game. Eubanks told reporters the altercation happened as he was coming into the arena for the game. He said an argument started and they were chest-to-chest before Stewart threw the punch. Security intervened and Eubanks said he was fine for the game.
Williams, whose new team endured a NBA-record tying 28-game losing streak this season, relished the opportunity to come back and relive the successes of the Suns.
“Getting an opportunity to come (to Phoenix), the partnership I had with the players here in particular Devin, I think about how blessed I was to come here and coach this team,” Williams said before the game. “All the stuff that happened here was a treat.”
NEXT
Pistons: At Indiana on Thursday, Feb. 22.
Suns: At Dallas on Thursday, Feb. 22.
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