Ebuka Okorie’s late layup completes Detroit’s 18-point comeback in 109-107 win over Phoenix

Phoenix built a game that should have held

For a half, the Suns looked as though they had done the hard work. They scored 35 points in the first quarter, closed it with a pair of Collin Gillespie baskets in the final 34 seconds, and carried that surge into a 68-50 halftime lead. Miles Bridges set an early tone with eight first-quarter points, while Dillon Brooks, Devin Booker and Jalen Green all found room to score before the break.

Phoenix had the cleaner offensive numbers for most of the night. The Suns finished at 48.7 per cent from the field, hit 14 of 35 from three-point range and won the rebounding battle 47-35. Booker scored 13 points, Brooks and Green added 11 apiece, and the Suns also received useful bench minutes from Gillespie, Luke Kennard and Jordan Goodwin. At halftime, the formula looked straightforward enough: enough shot-making, enough second chances and a cushion that had reached as high as 19.

Detroit turned the third quarter inside out

The comeback did not arrive all at once. Detroit chipped at the margin immediately after the interval, trimming the score from 68-50 to 68-56 on baskets from Ausar Thompson and John Collins. Phoenix answered and still led 79-60 when Gillespie drilled a 25-foot three with 8:32 left in the third, a moment that made the gap look stable again.

Instead, that shot became the last real breath of the Suns’ control. Detroit closed the quarter on a 24-5 run. Paul Reed scored from the line and in the lane, Collins added a layup, Ronald Holland II attacked for free throws and a driving finish, Taurean Prince hit from deep, and Chaz Lanier followed with a 25-footer of his own. Then, with 3.9 seconds left in the quarter, Daniss Jenkins buried a 26-foot three to level the game at 84-84.

That stretch changed both the scoreboard and the feel of the night. Holland led Detroit with 14 points, while Collins, Reed, Cade Cunningham and Thompson all reached double figures in a balanced attack. Reed paired his 10 points with seven rebounds and three assists. Jenkins scored only five, but his four assists and late third-quarter triple were central to the swing. Just as important, Detroit kept manufacturing extra possessions; the Pistons ended the night with 21 steals and eight blocks.

A frantic finish settled on the final drive

Phoenix opened the fourth with purpose. Jamaree Bouyea hit a three at 11:18 and followed with another basket 23 seconds later for an 89-84 lead. Detroit answered with its sharpest burst of the quarter: Javonte Green connected from 29 feet, Okorie put the Pistons back in front at 90-89 with a 24-foot running jumper, Jenkins scored inside, and Green struck again from deep to cap an 11-0 run that made it 95-89.

The Suns refused to let the game go there. Kennedy Chandler's three-pointer cut the margin to three, Bouyea split free throws, and Chandler drove for the layup that tied it 95-95 with 4:45 remaining. Okorie restored Detroit’s lead, Duop Reath answered with two free throws, and the teams kept trading narrow advantages. Isaac Jones scored twice around Brice Williams’ three free throws, but Chandler’s second three of the quarter trimmed the Pistons’ lead to 105-102 with 1:30 left.

The final 16 seconds produced one last twist. Bouyea drilled a three with 15.1 seconds remaining, Koa Peat followed with a dunk to tie the score at 107-107 with 12.1 seconds left, and Detroit still found the closing play. Okorie drove and finished with 5.8 seconds on the clock, giving him seven points on 3-of-4 shooting and the basket that decided the night.

Our take

This was the kind of game that makes the box score tell two stories at once. Phoenix shot better, made one more three and dominated the glass. Detroit, though, won the messier parts of the evening, and that is where the result turned. The Suns were charged with 32 total turnovers, and the Pistons converted those mistakes into 37 points. In a two-point game, that number looms over everything else.

Detroit also survived its own imperfections. The Pistons shot 44.3 per cent and went only 26-for-41 at the line, hardly a flawless offensive night. But when a team piles up 21 steals, gets 13 offensive rebounds and receives meaningful scoring from Holland, Reed, Collins, Thompson, Green, Okorie and others, it gives itself repeated chances to recover from cold stretches. For Phoenix, the path to a better finish is less mysterious than complicated: protect the ball with more care and cash in more than 17 of 33 free throws. The Suns did enough to lead for most of the game; they did not do enough to close it.

Scoring moments

1. 1st Quarter · 11:23

   Miles Bridges makes 1-foot tip in dunk

2. 1st Quarter · 10:59

   John Collins makes two point shot

3. 1st Quarter · 10:54

   Miles Bridges makes layup (Devin Booker assists)

4. 1st Quarter · 10:24

   Cade Cunningham makes 1-foot dunk (Duncan Robinson assists)

5. 1st Quarter · 10:06

   Miles Bridges makes 23-foot three point jumper (Devin Booker assists)

6. 1st Quarter · 9:35

   Devin Booker makes 19-foot pullup jump shot

7. 1st Quarter · 9:05

   Cade Cunningham makes 26-foot three pointer

8. 1st Quarter · 8:56

   Dillon Brooks makes 12-foot pullup jump shot

9. 1st Quarter · 8:34

   Jalen Green makes running dunk (Miles Bridges assists)

10. 1st Quarter · 8:10

    John Collins makes 1-foot alley oop dunk (Ausar Thompson assists)

11. 1st Quarter · 7:23

    Dillon Brooks makes free throw flagrant 1 of 2

12. 1st Quarter · 7:23

    Cade Cunningham makes technical free throw

13. 1st Quarter · 6:21

    Dillon Brooks makes 24-foot three point jumper (Miles Bridges assists)

14. 1st Quarter · 5:48

    Ausar Thompson makes 9-foot jumper (Isaiah Joe assists)

15. 1st Quarter · 5:16

    Jalen Green makes 25-foot three point jumper (Devin Booker assists)

16. 1st Quarter · 5:07

    Isaiah Joe makes free throw 2 of 3

17. 1st Quarter · 5:07

    Isaiah Joe makes free throw 3 of 3

18. 1st Quarter · 4:11

    Khaman Maluach makes layup

19. 1st Quarter · 3:55

    Jordan Goodwin makes two point shot

20. 1st Quarter · 3:03

    Duncan Robinson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Paul Reed assists)

21. 1st Quarter · 2:42

    Jordan Goodwin makes tip shot

22. 1st Quarter · 2:28

    Ronald Holland II makes 2-foot two point shot

23. 1st Quarter · 2:24

    Luke Kennard makes free throw 1 of 2

24. 1st Quarter · 2:24

    Luke Kennard makes free throw 2 of 2

25. 1st Quarter · 1:50

    Khaman Maluach makes 3-foot two point shot (Ryan Dunn assists)

26. 1st Quarter · 1:29

    Ronald Holland II makes free throw 1 of 2

27. 1st Quarter · 1:29

    Ronald Holland II makes free throw 2 of 2

28. 1st Quarter · 33.3

    Collin Gillespie makes 27-foot three pointer

29. 1st Quarter · 4.2

    Collin Gillespie makes 14-foot pullup jump shot

30. 2nd Quarter · 10:37

    Cade Cunningham makes 25-foot three pointer

31. 2nd Quarter · 9:54

    Luke Kennard makes 9-foot pullup jump shot

32. 2nd Quarter · 9:40

    Paul Reed makes free throw 1 of 2

33. 2nd Quarter · 9:40

    Paul Reed makes free throw 2 of 2

34. 2nd Quarter · 9:22

    Luke Kennard makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jalen Green assists)

35. 2nd Quarter · 8:35

    Duncan Robinson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ausar Thompson assists)

36. 2nd Quarter · 8:22

    Oso Ighodaro makes 4-foot floating jump shot (Luke Kennard assists)

37. 2nd Quarter · 8:00

    Duncan Robinson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Cade Cunningham assists)

38. 2nd Quarter · 7:45

    Jalen Green makes free throw 2 of 2

39. 2nd Quarter · 7:34

    Paul Reed makes tip shot

40. 2nd Quarter · 7:26

    Miles Bridges makes technical free throw

41. 2nd Quarter · 7:21

    Oso Ighodaro makes free throw 2 of 2

42. 2nd Quarter · 6:59

    Jalen Green makes 1-foot dunk (Miles Bridges assists)

43. 2nd Quarter · 6:48

    Ausar Thompson makes 16-foot pullup jump shot

44. 2nd Quarter · 6:37

    Dillon Brooks makes 25-foot three point jumper (Miles Bridges assists)

45. 2nd Quarter · 6:23

    Paul Reed makes free throw 1 of 2

46. 2nd Quarter · 6:23

    Paul Reed makes free throw 2 of 2

47. 2nd Quarter · 6:05

    Devin Booker makes 2-foot layup (Oso Ighodaro assists)

48. 2nd Quarter · 5:27

    Dillon Brooks makes 20-foot jumper (Oso Ighodaro assists)

49. 2nd Quarter · 5:08

    Devin Booker makes 29-foot running pullup jump shot

50. 2nd Quarter · 4:15

    Cade Cunningham makes free throw 1 of 2

51. 2nd Quarter · 4:02

    Tolu Smith makes free throw 1 of 2

52. 2nd Quarter · 3:43

    Jalen Green makes free throw 2 of 2

53. 2nd Quarter · 3:32

    Ronald Holland II makes 9-foot pullup jump shot

54. 2nd Quarter · 3:06

    Isaiah Joe makes 24-foot three point jumper (Daniss Jenkins assists)

55. 2nd Quarter · 2:49

    Jalen Green makes free throw 1 of 2

56. 2nd Quarter · 2:49

    Jalen Green makes free throw 2 of 2

57. 2nd Quarter · 2:32

    Isaiah Joe makes 21-foot step back jumpshot

58. 2nd Quarter · 2:16

    Devin Booker makes 7-foot fade away jump shot

59. 2nd Quarter · 1:44

    Devin Booker makes free throw 1 of 2

60. 2nd Quarter · 1:44

    Devin Booker makes free throw 2 of 2

61. 2nd Quarter · 1:15

    Ryan Dunn makes tip shot

62. 2nd Quarter · 1:00

    Ronald Holland II makes 23-foot three point jumper (Daniss Jenkins assists)

63. 2nd Quarter · 54.0

    Devin Booker makes free throw 1 of 2

64. 2nd Quarter · 54.0

    Devin Booker makes free throw 2 of 2

65. 3rd Quarter · 11:45

    Ausar Thompson makes driving layup

66. 3rd Quarter · 11:22

    John Collins makes tip shot

67. 3rd Quarter · 11:02

    Ausar Thompson makes 1-foot running dunk (Paul Reed assists)

68. 3rd Quarter · 10:40

    Luke Kennard makes 12-foot pullup jump shot

69. 3rd Quarter · 10:24

    Jordan Goodwin makes 26-foot running pullup jump shot

70. 3rd Quarter · 9:57

    John Collins makes layup

71. 3rd Quarter · 9:15

    Rasheer Fleming makes 24-foot three point jumper (Collin Gillespie assists)

72. 3rd Quarter · 8:45

    Paul Reed makes 9-foot fade away jump shot

73. 3rd Quarter · 8:32

    Collin Gillespie makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jordan Goodwin assists)

74. 3rd Quarter · 8:00

    Paul Reed makes free throw 1 of 2

75. 3rd Quarter · 8:00

    Paul Reed makes free throw 2 of 2

76. 3rd Quarter · 7:39

    Khaman Maluach makes 1-foot running dunk (Luke Kennard assists)

77. 3rd Quarter · 7:16

    Ausar Thompson makes 20-foot pullup jump shot

78. 3rd Quarter · 6:50

    Kevin Huerter makes free throw 1 of 2

79. 3rd Quarter · 6:50

    Kevin Huerter makes free throw 2 of 2

80. 3rd Quarter · 6:34

    John Collins makes running layup (Paul Reed assists)

81. 3rd Quarter · 5:04

    Kevin Huerter makes free throw 1 of 3

82. 3rd Quarter · 5:04

    Kevin Huerter makes free throw 3 of 3

83. 3rd Quarter · 3:50

    Ronald Holland II makes free throw 1 of 2

84. 3rd Quarter · 3:50

    Ronald Holland II makes free throw 2 of 2

85. 3rd Quarter · 2:46

    Koa Peat makes 7-foot pullup jump shot (Jamaree Bouyea assists)

86. 3rd Quarter · 2:25

    Chaz Lanier makes free throw 2 of 2

87. 3rd Quarter · 2:04

    Ronald Holland II makes driving layup

88. 3rd Quarter · 1:48

    Taurean Prince makes 25-foot three point jumper (Ronald Holland II assists)

89. 3rd Quarter · 1:02

    Chaz Lanier makes 25-foot running pullup jump shot (Daniss Jenkins assists)

90. 3rd Quarter · 20.0

    Pat Spencer makes free throw 2 of 2

91. 3rd Quarter · 3.9

    Daniss Jenkins makes 26-foot three pointer

92. 4th Quarter · 11:18

    Jamaree Bouyea makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot

93. 4th Quarter · 10:55

    Jamaree Bouyea makes two point shot

94. 4th Quarter · 9:52

    Javonte Green makes 29-foot three point jumper (Tolu Smith assists)

95. 4th Quarter · 9:30

    Ebuka Okorie makes 24-foot running jump shot (Javonte Green assists)

96. 4th Quarter · 8:52

    Daniss Jenkins makes 2-foot two point shot

97. 4th Quarter · 8:12

    Javonte Green makes 25-foot three point jumper (Daniss Jenkins assists)

98. 4th Quarter · 6:46

    Kennedy Chandler makes 23-foot three point jumper (Pat Spencer assists)

99. 4th Quarter · 5:46

    Jamaree Bouyea makes free throw 2 of 3

100. 4th Quarter · 4:45

     Kennedy Chandler makes driving layup

101. 4th Quarter · 4:28

     Ebuka Okorie makes driving layup

102. 4th Quarter · 4:12

     Duop Reath makes free throw 1 of 2

103. 4th Quarter · 4:12

     Duop Reath makes free throw 2 of 2

104. 4th Quarter · 3:06

     Isaac Jones makes driving layup (Ebuka Okorie assists)

105. 4th Quarter · 2:49

     Brice Williams makes free throw 1 of 3

106. 4th Quarter · 2:49

     Brice Williams makes free throw 2 of 3

107. 4th Quarter · 2:49

     Brice Williams makes free throw 3 of 3

108. 4th Quarter · 2:16

     Isaac Jones makes free throw 2 of 2

109. 4th Quarter · 2:00

     Haywood Highsmith makes tip shot

110. 4th Quarter · 1:38

     Isaac Jones makes driving layup (Brice Williams assists)

111. 4th Quarter · 1:30

     Kennedy Chandler makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jamaree Bouyea assists)

112. 4th Quarter · 30.6

     Ronald Holland II makes free throw 2 of 2

113. 4th Quarter · 24.6

     Chaz Lanier makes free throw 2 of 2

114. 4th Quarter · 15.1

     Jamaree Bouyea makes 24-foot three point jumper

115. 4th Quarter · 12.1

     Koa Peat makes 1-foot dunk (Rasheer Fleming assists)

116. 4th Quarter · 5.8

     Ebuka Okorie makes driving layup