Suns Victim of Wemby Breakout

The number one overall draft pick, Victor Wembanyama, was likely to have a breakout performance early in the season. Unfortunately for Phoenix, they played the rookie twice in a row when he was just starting to get hot, and lost both games. In the second game, Wemby went off for 38 points with 10 rebounds. Bradley Beal has yet to play for the new-look Suns this year, as Durant and company were not enough to overcome the Spurs. Phoenix hopes to regroup and get a win on their East Coast road trip against Detroit.

Devin Booker is the leading scorer for Phoenix, but has only played in two out of the six games for the Suns. In those games, Booker is averaging 31.5 PPG, with 10.5 APG and 7.5 RPG. The 2022 First Team All-NBA player should be ready to lead his team on a deep playoff run with the help of Durant and Beal. Durant is in his 16th NBA season, but still playing at an elite level. Durant is averaging 27.4 PPG and 6.8 RPG, and has played in all six games. Without Beal, Eric Gordon has been the third scorer for Phoenix, he started the four games without Booker and is averaging 14.6 PPG.

Grayson Allen has been starting at guard and averaging 11.6 PPG. Jusuf Nurkic is the new center in Phoenix after the Deandre Ayton trade, Nurkic averages nine points and nine rebounds per game. Josh Okogie is the role player of the starting lineup, he defends on the wing and adds another 9.0 PPG. The Suns rank 15th in the league in pace of play according to dunksandthrees.com, averaging 100.8 possessions per game.

Pistons Drop Three Straight

The Pistons come into this game on a three game losing streak. Detroit has gone down to Oklahoma City, Portland, and New Orleans in the stretch. In their last game, the Pistons lost the battle behind the arc as the Pelicans shot 43.8% from three, while Detroit only shot 34.2%. Cade Cunningham led the team with 22 points, as the former number one pick is hoping to guide the Pistons back to the playoffs.

Cade Cunningham has been the top player for the Pistons, he controls the offense with 22.7 PPG and 7.5 APG. Cunningham is a 6’6, 220 pound point guard coming off a double-double against New Orleans with 22 points and 11 rebounds. After Cunningham, six players on the Pistons are averaging double figures, led by a player off the bench. Alec Burks is averaging 15.0 PPG off the bench for Detroit, he dropped 24 in a game earlier this season against Charlotte. Nineteen year old center Jalen Duren has taken over the starting spot inside, averaging 14.8 PPG and 11.6 RPG. Isaiah Stewart is another physical presence inside, he starts at the power forward spot and brings 13.0 PPG and 8.5 RPG.

Rookie Ausar Thompson has started every game this season for Detroit, the 20-year-old rookie was the 5th overall pick and is averaging 11.0 PPG and 9.3 RPG as a 6’6 wing player. Jaden Ivey was the 5th overall pick last season, he comes off the bench this season and scores 11.8 PPG. Detroit is playing at the 17th-fastest tempo in the league, averaging 100.5 possessions per game.