Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks each finished plus-18 in just 16 minutes, but neither was on the floor in the fourth quarter as Phoenix's reserves took over down the stretch. That closing group struggled on defense, and the Suns opened preseason 0-1, falling 107-109 at Detroit.
The closing five. With the game on the line, Jordan Ott's lineup was Haywood Highsmith, Jamaree Bouyea, Khaman Maluach, Luke Kennard and Rasheer Fleming, not Booker, Brooks, Green or Bridges. That same group was still on the floor when the final buzzer sounded on the 107-109 loss.
Best plus-minus. Booker went plus-18 in 16 minutes, 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting and 4-of-4 from the line. Brooks matched him at plus-18 in the same 16 minutes, scoring 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Green was plus-10 in 15 minutes with 11 points.
Worst plus-minus. Bouyea finished minus-19 in 17 minutes off the bench, with 9 points on 3-of-9 shooting and four turnovers. Highsmith was minus-16 in 16 minutes. Duop Reath was minus-10 in just 9 minutes. All three were part of the closing stretch that let the game slip.
Bench outscored starters. Phoenix's reserves put up 60 points to the starters' 46, led by Bouyea, Kennard and Kennedy Chandler off the bench. The scoring held up. The defense did not, not with the group that was still in the game when Detroit pulled it out.
Booker's quiet efficiency. 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 1-of-4 from three and a clean 4-of-4 at the line, in only 16 minutes. Grade: B+. Preseason minutes are short by design, and Booker made the most of his.
Chandler's hot spell. 8 points on 3-of-5 shooting with two 3-pointers in just 9 minutes, finishing plus-1. Grade: B. It's a short look off the bench, but Chandler didn't miss a shot that mattered.
Bouyea's rough night. 9 points on 3-of-9 shooting with four turnovers and a minus-19 in 17 minutes. Grade: D. Bouyea was part of Ott's closing five, and the numbers show why that stretch went sideways for Phoenix.
Who closed the Suns' preseason loss to the Pistons?
Jordan Ott used Haywood Highsmith, Jamaree Bouyea, Khaman Maluach, Luke Kennard and Rasheer Fleming in the final five minutes, and that group was still on the floor when Phoenix lost 107-109.
Which Suns had the best plus-minus against Detroit?
Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks both finished plus-18, Booker with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting and Brooks with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, each in 16 minutes.
