Phoenix Suns dominate Detroit Pistons for 2nd straight win after Devin Booker's ejection

The Phoenix Suns (33-22) dominated the Detroit Pistons (8-46) at home on Wednesday, winning 116-100 despite playing most of the game without two of its Big 3 stars.

The victory was Phoenix's second consecutive win as they swept the two-game series against Detroit this season. The win put the Suns at their season-best 11 games over the .500 mark heading into the All-Star break.

Kevin Durant had the game-high 25 points, six assists and four rebounds in the win.

Phoenix native and backup point guard Saben Lee added 16 points, five rebounds and a game-high four steals. He stepped up after All-Star guard Devin Booker was ejected after directing comments toward officials in the first quarter, drawing a second technical foul.

The Suns already were without Bradley Beal, who sat out after injuring a hamstring in Tuesday's game.

The Pistons' were led by Simone Fontecchio's 18 points. Ausar Thompson added 14 and Cade Cunningham chipped in 13 points, respectively in the loss. The game marked Detroit coach Monty Williams' first return to Phoenix since he was fired by the Suns after last season.

The Suns will resume play after this weekend's All-Star break on the road, facing the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 22 .

Devin Booker ejection reaction: Suns, NBA fans want ticket, bet refunds, slam officiating

Durant, Suns too hot for Pistons in 3rd quarter

Kevin Durant scored 13 of his game-high 25 points to continue leading Phoenix's onslaught in the third.

He's shot 8-of-13 for the game, and hit 5-of-7, including a 3-point shot in the third.

Durant was playing without the two members of the Suns' Big 3. Devin Booker was ejected in the first quarter and Bradley Beal sat out with a hamstring injury sustained in Tuesday's game.

The Suns' biggest lead in the period was 35 points.

Lee shines replacing Booker, Suns gain big lead at half

Phoenix rolled harder over Detroit in the second quarter and built a 70-41 lead at the break.

Kevin Durant led all scorers with 12 points, his fellow starter Eric Gordon had 10, and Saben Lee is thriving off the bench matching Gordon's 10 against his former team.

The backup point guard and Phoenix native Lee has shot 3-of-4 from the field, and 4-of-4 from the free throw line, added two assists and two steals in eight minutes. Lee stepped up for Devin Booker after he was ejected near the first period's midpoint.

Detroit's backcourt mates Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey have the team-high nine points, and Cunningham has six assists.

Booker ejected early in 1st quarter

Phoenix led the entire first period and finished on its largest lead, 37-25, over Detroit.

Devin Booker was ejected from the game after he received his second technical foul halfway through the first for directing comments toward an official.

After he hit his second field goal around the seven-minute mark, Drew Eubanks was called for defensive three seconds in the paint during Detroit's following possession. Phoenix called timeout at 6:36, and Booker was given a tech after the Pistons rebounded the ball. Play stopped and Cade Cunningham made the free throw.

Then Suns coach Frank Vogel was given a tech for his displeasure with the officiating, and Booker walked away still jawing at the referees, which drew his second tech and automatic ejection.

The crowd booed loudly and chided the referee as Booker left the game.

Booker finished with seven points (2-of-5 shooting, 1-of-2 from the 3), one assist, one rebound, and one steal.

Williams receives Suns tribute video after pregame fight

There were two episodes of love and hate between the Suns and Pistons before their Valentine's Day meeting.

First was a heated exchange in the Footprint Center between Phoenix backup big Drew Eubanks and Detroit's Isaiah Stewart, who's not playing due to a left ankle sprain. The Athletic's Shams Charania first reported that led to an altercation in which Eubanks was sucker punched in the face by Stewart. Police were called to investigate the situation.

Eubanks told The Republic's Duane Rankin that he's OK and is still playing against the Pistons. The Suns released a statement that said, "The attack on Drew Eubanks was unprovoked, and acts of violence such as this are unacceptable. We unequivocally support Drew, and will continue to work with local law enforcement and the NBA."

Second, the love from the Suns was shown to its former coach Monty Williams in a tribute video.

The Detroit coach was given short clip on the arena's Jumbotron shortly before starting lineups.

Williams reminisced in his pregame media session about his time in Phoenix from personal and basketball standpoints.

That's truly how Valentines Day should be celebrated with nothing but love and respect, even against the opponent.

Starting lineups

The Suns are starting Devin Booker and Eric Gordon to replace the injured Bradley Beal in the backcourt with Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkic up front.

The Pistons' top player Cade Cunningham has been upgraded as available, so he'll start with Jaden Ivey at guard, their new forward Simone Fontecchio, rookie Ausar Thompson, and Jalen Duren at the five.

Injury reports: Beal out, Pistons' Cunningham probable

Bradley Beal is inactive for Phoenix against Detroit. The Suns' third-best scorer injured his left hamstring early in the first quarter in their win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. Phoenix coach Frank Vogel said after the victory that he hopes that the injury isn't that serious, and immediately ruled him out against Detroit. He will use the All-Star break beginning Thursday to recover for the Suns' next game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 22.

The other Suns player on their injury report is Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery), who's been out all season.

Detroit's top player and third-year guard Cade Cunningham (left knee management) is listed as probable. The team's newly acquired guard Quentin Grimes (right knee sprain) and Isaiah Stewart (left ankle sprain) are out. Malcolm Cazalon, Jared Rhoden, and Stanley Umude are out on G-League assignments.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns dominate Pistons for second straight win after Booker's ejection