Photo: Dale Young ~ IMAGN IMAGES
EAST LANSING, October 8, 2024 ~ In the first NBA preseason game hosted at the Breslin Center in East Lansing since 2000, the Phoenix Suns and their star duo in small forward Kevin Durant and shooting guard Devin Booker proved to be too much for the Detroit Pistons, winning 105-97 Tuesday evening.
The Suns have some major ties to the Spartans as their owner, Matt Ishbia, won a championship playing for Michigan State basketball under head coach Tom Izzo and has donated frequently to the athletic program. Additionally, Booker is from Grand Rapids, and was close to committing to MSU before choosing Kentucky about a decade ago.
He has stated in the past that he has been a fan of Izzo, and he showed it by giving advice to the current green and white players on top of giving out some new merchandise before the game.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Book x Book pic.twitter.com/bxqPbwOeGo
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) October 8, 2024
(CONTINUED) Phoenix jumped out to a quick lead in the first half thanks to 13 points from Durant. Pistons shooting guard Jaden Ivey led the way for Detroit in the first 24 minutes, tying Durant’s effort with 13 points himself.
Detroit center Jalen Duren added 11 points of his own, while point guard Cade Cunningham dished out seven assists in the first two quarters.
Duren and Ivey continued their strong effort into the second half, finishing with a combined 33 points for the night.
“He works his tail off and he has been playing with confidence,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff told WJR Correspondent Nick Lundberg after the game about Ivey. “He’s extremely addicted as a basketball player, so the hard work is going to pay off.”
Durant and Booker all but put the game away in the third quarter though, as KD finished his contest with 21 points while Booker put in 10.
With the loss, Detroit moves 1-1 in the preseason. Their next game is set for Oct. 11 at 10 p.m. against the Suns, this time in Phoenix.
TOP 760 WJR STORIES:
