Rookie guard Ebuka Okorie announced his arrival with a game-winning drive in the final seconds, lifting the Detroit Pistons to a 109-107 preseason victory over the Phoenix Suns at Little Caesars Arena. After sitting for three quarters, the 17th overall pick sparked a comeback from 18 points down, hitting a three-pointer for Detroit's first lead before sealing the win.
The game flipped when both teams went to their benches. Detroit's starters had a tough night against Phoenix's physical defense. They struggled with rebounding and some rushed early shots. But the Pistons' second unit had a clear edge in size, speed, and talent. That depth, a topic of fan discussion all summer, proved real in this first test. The bench mob generated 21 steals, leading to 37 points off turnovers and overwhelming the Suns' reserves.
Ron Holland led all Pistons scorers with 15 points. He also added five steals, a vintage part of his game. One of those thefts late in the fourth quarter pushed a three-point lead to five with under a minute to play. Dannis Jenkins finished a team-best plus-15 on the night. He made difficult passes and hit a tough, off-balance three-pointer to tie the game heading into the final quarter.
Coach clearly wanted to test players in expanded roles. Ausar Thompson handled the ball a lot. Holland was asked to shoot frequently. With Jalen Duren held out as he ramps up his conditioning, John Collins played significant minutes at center and Paul Reed got the start. The experiment wasn't always smooth. Phoenix outrebounded Detroit 47-35, building most of that advantage in the first half. The Suns, aiming to build on last season's 45 wins, played with their expected physical style. Devin Booker led them with 13 points.
Preseason is for working through these issues, though. The focus now is on development and building cohesion for the regular season.
The Pistons' preseason continues Saturday with a game against the Washington Wizards. Fans will hope to see Jalen Duren make his debut then. This win, fueled by the bench and a rookie's clutch moment, offers an early glimpse of the team's potential depth. For now, the story is Ebuka Okorie's exciting introduction and a sign that Detroit's second unit can change a game.
