Deandre Ayton has 31 points and 16 rebounds, Suns beat Pistons

DETROIT (AP)— Deandre Ayton had 31 points and 16 rebounds to helpthePhoenix Sunsbeat the Detroit Pistons 116-100 on Saturdaynight.

The surgingSungs have won eight of 10 games, includinga victory atBostonon Friday night, and have help on the way with DevinBooker nearing his return. The three-time All-Star guard has beenout since Christmas with a groin injury, but dunked in warmups inanother sign that he’s close to coming back.

Phoenixstarted each half strong, leading 13-3 in the opening minutes andscoring the first eight points after halftime, to take and keepcontrol against Detroit.

Chris Paulhad 14 assists for a balanced offense that didn’t need him to makeshots, finishing 0 for 7 and without a field goal for the firsttime since March 18, 2017, when he helped the Los Angeles Clippersbeat Cleveland by 30 points.

Mikal Bridgesscored 24 points, Cameron Johnson had 20 points and Torrey Craigadded 14 points for Phoenix.

BojanBogdanovic scored 23 points for the Pistons, who are vying withHouston to have the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft and a shot toselect7-foot-3 French phenom VictorWembanyama.

Detroitreserve Saddiq Bey had 25 points, Isaiah Stewart had 17 points andnine rebounds while rookie Jaden Ivey added 13 points and sixassists.

TIP-INS

Suns:Incoming team owner Mat Ishbia,who lives in suburban Detroit, was courtside in his usual seatsnear the visitors’ bench at Little Caesars Arena with his threechildren wearing Suns gear. The former Michigan State walk-on guardagreed to purchase the Suns and Phoenix Mercury for $4 billion inDecember, and sale is still in the process of being completed.

Pistons:Stewart missed all five of his 3-pointers in the first half,extending his streak without a make beyond the arc to 18 shots overseven-plus games. The power forward made all three of his 3-pointattempts in the third quarter to end the drought.

UPNEXT

Suns: AtBrooklyn on Tuesday night in middle of five-game trip.

Pistons: HostBoston on Monday night.