It may only be preseason, but the Detroit Pistons just gave their fans one of the most entertaining finishes they could have asked for.
Detroit erased a rough start and battled all the way back before winning 109–107 at the buzzer against the Phoenix Suns in its preseason opener.
Phoenix Controls the First Half
The Suns came out firing.
Phoenix scored 35 points in the opening quarter while Detroit managed just 21, immediately putting the Pistons in a 14-point hole.
Detroit improved offensively in the second quarter, but Phoenix continued to control the game and took a commanding 68–50 advantage into halftime.
For a preseason game, it looked like this one might be over early.
It wasn’t.
Detroit Completely Flips the Game
The Pistons came out of halftime looking like a completely different team.
After allowing 68 points over the opening two quarters, Detroit tightened things up defensively and began chipping away at Phoenix’s advantage.
The Pistons scored 34 points in the third quarter while holding the Suns to just 16.
In one quarter, an 18-point halftime deficit was completely erased.
Detroit entered the fourth quarter tied at 84, turning what had looked like a comfortable Phoenix victory into a completely new game.
Okorie Wins It at the Buzzer
From there, neither team could completely take control.
Detroit and Phoenix traded possessions throughout the fourth quarter, and the game remained undecided until the final seconds.
Phoenix managed to tie the game at 107 late, giving Detroit one final opportunity to win it.
That’s when Okorie delivered.
With the clock expiring, Okorie knocked down the game-winning shot to give Detroit a dramatic 109–107 victory and complete an 18-point comeback.
It was about as exciting a finish as you can get in a preseason game.
My Takeaway
Obviously, preseason results don’t mean much by themselves.
But the response absolutely does.
Detroit could have easily packed it in after falling behind by 18 at halftime. Instead, the Pistons came out and dominated the third quarter, completely changed the momentum of the game and eventually found a way to win it at the buzzer.
For a team coming into the season with significant expectations, that competitiveness is exactly what you want to see — even in October.
The result won’t count in the standings.
The comeback was still impressive.
Final: Detroit Pistons 109, Phoenix Suns 107
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