PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns fell to the Detroit Pistons 133-125 on Saturday night, losing their second straight game and completing a four-game home stretch.

The Suns are now 14-13 on the year, while Detroit improved to 12-17.

This was Phoenix’s first game all season without Devin Booker (left groin soreness), who was out for at least two games today.

Although Kevin Durant scored a season-high 43 points (14-26 FG) along with six assists and five rebounds following Phoenix’s 37-point loss to the Pacers on Thursday, Phoenix continued its trend of struggling against young, athletic teams. coughed up the ball 19 times, leading to 34 Detroit points.

Both teams shot exceptionally well: the Suns made 45 of 78 (57.7%) field goals and 14 of 29 (48.3%) 3-pointers. Detroit made 49 of 89 (55.1%) of its shots and was 19 of 39 (48.7%) from downtown.

Seven Pistons scored in double figures, with Cade Cunningham posting a team-high 28 points and 13 assists.

Bradley Beal scored 26 points (11-20 FG), six rebounds and five assists for Phoenix. Tyus Jones continued his efficient play with 19 points on 7 of 8 shooting. Royce O’Neale (11 points, two steals) and Jusuf Nurkić (10 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals) also reached double figures.

Detroit went on an early 10-0 run in the first quarter and built a big lead of 41-26 by the second quarter. Boos rained down from the Suns crowd as Detroit shot 17 of 27 (63%) from the floor and 6 of 10 from three in the quarter, led by Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren with 10 points each. Durant had 11 points (4-6 FG) for Phoenix as the Suns turned the ball over seven times during the quarter, leading to an incredible 16 Detroit points.

The Suns cut the Pistons’ lead to 64-59 at halftime, despite 11 turnovers in the half that led to 22 Detroit points. Phoenix shot a stellar 21-for-35 (60%), and Beal scored 12 points in the quarter alone, while Durant outscored the Suns with 16 points in the half. Tim Hardway Jr. (13 points) joined Duren and Ivey in double figures in the first half for Detroit.

Durant (13), Beal (10) and Jones (8) combined for 33 of the Suns’ 35 points in the third quarter, but the Phoenix defense continued to struggle, allowing 39 points to Detroit in the period. The Pistons held a 103-94 lead early in the fourth quarter after shooting 64% from both the field and from downtown in the third quarter. Grayson Allen went back to the locker room and did not return with 2:10 left in the quarter after suffering an elbow to the head.

Phoenix continued to fight in the fourth quarter with Durant taking the lead, but Detroit’s shots couldn’t stop either. The Suns trailed by just three points with 2:26 left, but the Pistons didn’t quite let them come back as Cunningham had 13 points in the quarter and hit a killer 3-pointer to give Detroit a 130-130 lead . 123 with 33 seconds left.

The Suns make a quick trip to Denver to face the Nuggets on Monday night and then return home for a Christmas game against Denver.