PHOENIX — Dillon Brooks doesn’t have harsh words only for officials and opposing players. In Thursday night’s 114-96 home win over the Detroit Pistons, he unleashed a few on Phoenix Suns coach Jordan Ott.
“He told me I sucked in so many words,’’ Ott said of the third-quarter conversation at Mortgage Matchup Center, adding that Brooks had wanted him to run actions that would have placed a smaller player on the 6-foot-6 Phoenix forward.
Through 48 games, the Suns (29-19) have had two players score 40-plus points. Amazingly, Devin Booker is not one. In November, Grayson Allen had 42 against the New Orleans Pelicans. And Thursday night, Brooks put up a career-high 40 against the Pistons.
“Dillon was working (Wednesday) night,’’ Ott said. “In the gym he was working with his guys. I trust whatever he’s saying to me. I trust that it’s coming from a good place. No matter the emotion. We can filter that out. But he was right and I was wrong.”
Said Brooks: “There’s no right or wrong when it comes to your teammates or your coaches. You’re just communicating what you see. Sometimes on the floor you see something different. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. But you learn from each other.”
Phoenix’s win over the Pistons was arguably its biggest of the season, mainly because it unfolded with Booker (right ankle sprain) and explosive guard Jalen Green (right hamstring injury management) watching in street clothes. Brooks was the star, but Phoenix’s grit and determination made the difference.
“Big time,” forward Royce O’Neale said. “Especially since we’re trying to get wins with guys out.”
Entering Thursday, the Suns and Pistons had mirrored each other in many ways. Detroit led the NBA in steals at 10.5 per game. Phoenix was second at 10.3 Detroit led the league in loose balls recovered at 6.6. Phoenix was fourth at 5.5. Detroit ranked second in deflections at 20.8, Phoenix was third at 20.6.
The Suns out-scrapped the Pistons.
Reserve big man Oso Ighodaro entered with 4 minutes, 44 seconds left in the first quarter. On Phoenix’s next possession, he grabbed an O’Neale miss and fed Allen (24 points) for an open 3-pointer. The 6-foot-11 Ighodaro got his hands on the ball six more times the rest of the quarter. He knocked the ball from Detroit star Cade Cunningham. He tipped in an Allen miss. He tapped back a Collin Gillespie miss, leading to an extra possession.
Over the last two seasons, with Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, the Suns could put together a decent highlight reel showcasing offensive skill. This season’s reel is more about hustle plays. Allen racing to knock the ball off Mikal Bridges to seal a win against the Knicks. Jordan Goodwin out-muscling bigger opponents for offensive rebounds.
Maybe Phoenix’s best sequence came in last week’s loss at Atlanta. On one play, Gillespie deflected a pass from guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, then jumped onto the court to grab it, a hustle play that led to a Booker layup. On Atlanta’s next possession, Ighodaro knocked the ball from Luke Kennard, dove after it and started a fast break that led to another Booker score.
Before Thursday’s contest, Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff talked of the team’s physical identity and how it resembled the tough teams of the organization’s past. The Suns are trying to adopt a similar mindset, but for them, it’s a different brand of basketball. And they seem to improve every week. Without their two best scorers, the Suns led the Pistons by as many as 21 and fought off a fierce third-quarter rally.
Known for defense, Brooks made it stand. As a member of the Houston Rockets last season, Brooks decided after the playoffs that he wanted to become more of a scorer. He worked on offensive moves over the offseason. When Houston traded him to Phoenix in the blockbuster Durant deal, Brooks knew he had a chance.
In the past, Brooks has watched Mike Tyson highlights for motivation. Recently, he watched “Kobe Bryant’s Muse.” This season, Brooks said he works 20-40 minutes each night on shots he expects to get during games. He’s averaging a career-best 20.5 points.
“He’s a psycho,” Gillespie said. “He’s always (at the practice facility.) Like, if you walk in and you don’t see Dillon, you’re pretty shocked. I think I’ve told him to chill a few times. He was hurting at the beginning of the year, his body was breaking down a little, I was like, ‘Yo, stop going to the gym.’”
Brooks refused.
Against Detroit, he hit 13 of 22, scoring from the perimeter and penetrating into the lane. He made 10 of 12 from the foul line. He also had eight rebounds and four assists. After showering, Brooks walked into the media room holding the night’s game ball. But he didn’t need it to remind himself of what he is capable.
“Ultimately,” he said, “me working on my craft at night, comes out in the game.”
