Kevin Durant's 41 points propel Phoenix Suns to snap 3-game skid

The Phoenix Suns (3-4) blew out the Detroit Pistons 120-106 on Sunday.

In the second of a back-to-back, the victory ends Phoenix's three-game losing streak.

Phoenix starters Kevin Durant torched Detroit (2-5) for 41 points, five assists, and three blocks, Eric Gordon had 21 points, and Grayson Allen had 14 points. Josh Okogie had 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds off the bench.

Detroit's top scorers were Cade Cunningham and Marcus Sasser who had 26 and 20 points, respectively, and center Jalen Duren chipped in the game-high 11 rebounds in addition to his 12 points.

Phoenix will play the last of its three-game road trip against the Chicago Bulls (2-5) on Wednesday.

Durant catches fire in 3rd quarter

Detroit can't stop Kevin Durant.

He's got 35 points and shot 6-for-8 (12-of-24 FG total) in the third quarter to extend Phoenix's 92-80 lead over Detroit entering the fourth.

Detroit's Cade Cunningham added 10 to his team-high 23 points in the third.

Phoenix reached its largest lead 19 in the third's midpoint.

Suns gain steam, sizable margin in 2nd quarter

Phoenix is ahead of Detroit 58-49 at the break.

Kevin Durant has the game-high 17 points with his two blocks, two assists, two rebounds, and a steal, whereas Detroit's Cade Cunningham has 13 for his team's high.

Phoenix began the second quarter's first six minutes on a 22-10 run driven by Josh Okogie (nine points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals) and Eric Gordon (13 points) for a 13-point lead, and its biggest was 15.

Detroit answered that run with its own 12-4 run over the next five minutes to shave the lead down to five. Then Okogie and Durant scored the first half’s last two field goals to extend Phoenix’s lead.

Durant drives Suns' lead edging Pistons to end 1st quarter

Kevin Durant has the game-high 13 points as Phoenix leads Detroit 28-27 entering the second.

Detroit's 2021 top overall draft pick Cade Cunningham and big Marvin Bagley III are tied for their team-high six points.

Starting lineups

Phoenix is starting Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen to replace Devin Booker and Bradley Beal at the respective point and two-guard spots, Keita Bates-Diop and Kevin Durant at forward, and Yusuf Nurkic at center. This is the second straight game Suns coach Frank Vogel has started Bates-Diop instead of Josh Okogie, who started in the first five games.

Detroit's opening lineup is Cade Cunningham at the one, Killian Hayes in the backcourt as well, their top draft pick and small forward Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart at the four, and Jalen Duren at five.

Booker, Beal out again vs. ex-Suns coach

The new Phoenix Big 3's regular season debut is still on hold, and Devin Booker continues to be plagued by the injury bug.

Phoenix's pregame injury report listed Booker (right calf strain) out alongside Bradley Beal (back) and Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) for Sunday's game in Detroit.

Booker will miss his second straight game and fifth of Phoenix's seven regular season games. His last appearance was his 31-point, 13-assist outing in Phoenix's home loss to San Antonio on Thursday.

Beal has yet to play for Phoenix since its preseason home win over Portland on Oct. 16.

Booker suffered a left ankle sprain in Phoenix's season-opening win at Golden State, which made him miss time before Sunday. In addition to the ankle soreness he played through in his Thursday appearance, Phoenix coach Frank Vogel said in Sunday's pregame availability that Booker had an MRI after that loss and was diagnosed with a calf strain.

Phoenix's leading scorer Kevin Durant (28.0 points per game) will have to pick up the slack once again in Booker and Beal's absence.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns rout Detroit Pistons, end 3-game losing streak