Tyus Jones shoots nearly 100% in Phoenix Suns' loss to Detroit Pistons

There were ups and downs for the Phoenix Suns (14-13) and individually for Tyus Jones in Saturday’s 133-125 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

The Suns’ struggling offense gave up its season-high 34 points on 19 turnovers after giving up 29 points on 16 turnovers to Indiana on Friday. The Suns have lost two in a row.

Jones, the team’s starting point guard and assist leader, turned in his second-best shooting performance of the season and hit the Suns’ most efficient night from the field, 7 of 8 (3 of 3 from 3) for 19 points, three shy of his season high. But he provided a season-low two assists and had two turnovers.

Jones filled in for the injured Devin Booker (left groin) to carry the scoring load alongside Kevin Durant, who scored a game-high 43 points, and Bradley Beal, who scored 26 points against Detroit.

“I’m not chasing assists, just trying to take what the defense gives me, so a season low tonight,” Jones said after the game. “I’m not proud of that, but at the same time, K (Kevin Durant) probably had a bunch of assists, Brad (Beal) probably had a bunch of assists. The shots were there for me tonight, and I’m going back to the drawing board next game.”

Durant and Beal tied for a team-high six assists.

Jones, who shot a team-best 54.3% from long range in December, said he continues to find the balance between his own scoring and facilitating the offense and the Suns’ Big 3 of Booker, Durant and Beal. helps to find their places.

“It will be something we will work on balancing all year,” Jones said.

The Suns had 13 different starting lineups due to injuries, Jones noted.

“On the other hand, there are other lineups,” he said. “This is the first time we’ve played without Book all year, so I’m trying to get to grips with it and figure it out. “It’s not an excuse, but it’s something we have to work through. We had to figure it out, so tonight was different for us, but we just had to get better.”

Suns coach Mike Budenholzer was pleased with Jones’ aggression as a scorer. But he added that the team’s 125 points are “probably somewhere close to where they should win.”

He said the Suns need to improve their defense (ranked 24th in the NBA) and reduce their turnovers. Durant signed the most players with eight players, while Jones and Beal each signed two.

Budenholzer said Jones’ role as a mediator is important.

“We also need him as an assistant,” said Budenholzer. “So he has to be able to do a little bit of everything.” I probably don’t want to go too far and say we don’t need him to catch the boys’ eyes.

“But our offense, the turnovers, stand out to me,” he added. “Tyus uses what the game gives him.” He will have nights with a lot of assists. … The ball was probably more in Kevin’s hands tonight, it was just played more directly through him. I think it was more of an anomaly than a message that Tyus was aggressive.”

Beal spoke about the impact of Booker missing Saturday’s game for the first time this season after injuring his groin in the Indiana game. He was ruled out for Monday’s game in Denver.

“Everyone has to be aggressive,” Beal said. “We were 30 points short out there, so we can’t make up the points with one (Booker’s jersey number).”

Beal added of Jones: “He knows he has to be a little more aggressive and he will be. He does a good job picking his spots. He doesn’t force anything.”

Statistically, Jones had the Suns’ best hand, hitting all seven of his attempts in the first three quarters of the Pistons game. But he didn’t shoot from outside in the fourth period as the Suns trailed by as many as 13 points. Durant, who scored 13 points in the final period, had the ball for most of the game.

After Jones made his only two free throws to cut the lead to 112-101 with 8:44 to play, he fended off Jalen Duren (17 points, 11 rebounds) near midcourt on the Pistons’ next possession and made a breakaway layup on . But Cade Cunningham (team-high 28 points, game-high 13 assists) chased Jones and partially blocked the shot.

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Tyus Jones shoots nearly 100% in Phoenix Suns’ loss to Detroit Pistons

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