PHX 114, DET 96: Dillon Brooks Tops All Fantasy Scorers With 68 ESPN FP
Marcus Thompson Jr.
Fire Lieutenant ยท Golden State Warriors fan
Dillon Brooks Goes Supernova, Suns Survive Without Booker
Final: Suns 114, Pistons 96
Look, I've been watching basketball for longer than most of you have been alive, and I can tell you when a guy just decides to take over a game. That's what Dillon Brooks did tonight. The man went absolutely nuclear, dropping 40 points on 13-22 shooting with perfect free throw stroke (10-12). This wasn't just volume either. He was efficient, he was aggressive, and he was the best player on the floor by a country mile.
Here's the thing that matters for your lineups: Brooks was +19 points above his season average. That's not a small sample size wiggle. That's "I showed up tonight" energy. And he did it in only 32 minutes, which means the Suns didn't even need to ride him into the ground. If this is sustainable, Brooks just became a legitimate carry option. But let's be real, he's not going 59% from the field every night. Still, his floor is clearly higher than his season average suggests.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dillon Brooks | 68.0 | 60.6 | 40/8/4 | 21.0/3.6/1.8 | +19.0 |
| Cade Cunningham | 45.0 | 47.1 | 26/3/7 | 25.3/5.7/9.7 | +0.7 |
| Jalen Duren | 55.0 | 46.6 | 23/13/4 | 17.9/10.6/1.7 | +5.1 |
| Grayson Allen | 37.0 | 36.1 | 24/3/5 | 16.6/3.0/3.8 | +7.4 |
| Collin Gillespie | 26.0 | 25.0 | 16/5/2 | 13.4/4.1/4.7 | +2.6 |
| Tobias Harris | 24.0 | 21.5 | 13/5/1 | 13.6/4.6/2.4 | -0.6 |
| Oso Ighodaro | 18.0 | 20.8 | 6/9/2 | 5.5/4.5/1.7 | +0.5 |
| Ausar Thompson | 20.0 | 18.8 | 6/4/6 | 10.7/5.9/2.7 | -4.7 |
| Royce O'Neale | 18.0 | 16.4 | 10/2/2 | 10.2/4.8/3.0 | -0.2 |
| Jordan Goodwin | 16.0 | 16.3 | 2/4/3 | 8.4/4.7/2.3 | -6.4 |
The Booker Absence and Role Expansion
Here's the real story nobody's talking about yet. Devin Booker didn't play tonight. That's a massive red flag if you own him, but it also tells us something important about the supporting cast. The Suns still won by 18, and it wasn't close. Grayson Allen (+7.4 pts vs avg) and Collin Gillespie both stepped up in the scoring column, which is good for depth but also shows how much the Suns' ceiling drops without their All-NBA guy.
Allen played 34 minutes and went 5-14 from the field but crushed his free throws (10-10). That's the kind of volume that doesn't always sustain. Gillespie got 25 minutes and hit five threes, which is closer to his ceiling than his floor. If Booker misses extended time, Allen becomes a desperation add in deeper leagues, but I'm not getting excited about either of these guys as long as Book is coming back.
Cade and Duren Try to Will Detroit to Life
On the flip side, Cade Cunningham (47.1 Yahoo FP) and Jalen Duren (46.6 Yahoo FP) put up respectable numbers and still lost by 18. That's how you know this game got away from Detroit early. Cunningham hit his season average with a near-triple-double (26/3/7), and Duren was a monster inside (23/13 on 10-11 shooting). But neither guy could get his teammates in rhythm. Ausar Thompson was actually active with 6 assists but couldn't get enough volume (6 points on 3-6 FG).
This is a warning sign for Cunningham owners. He's an All-NBA tier talent, but he can't carry scrubs to wins, especially on the road. When the Pistons tighten up their roster around him later this season, his assist numbers might actually tick down if the offense becomes more distributed. Keep that in mind if you're thinking about buying low on him.
Duren's efficiency was elite tonight (+5.1 pts, +2.4 rebs above average), so that's worth noting. Kid can score inside when he gets touches. The issue is he only got 28 minutes in a blowout. Rest is fine, but also make sure he's staying healthy.
The Bench Showed Up
Oso Ighodaro (20.8 Yahoo FP) grabbed 9 boards in just 20 minutes, which is basically 18 rebounds per 36. That's elite rebounder stuff. For a guy averaging 5.5 PPG on the season, 6/9 is nothing to sneeze at either. Royce O'Neale and Jordan Goodwin both provided solid backup minutes without breaking the bank.
The Pistons got contributions across the board too. Tobias Harris was right at his average, Duncan Robinson chipped in 14 Yahoo FP as a role player, and Isaiah Stewart had some pop (11 points, 2 boards in 23 minutes). None of these are waiver wire moves, but it tells you Detroit's depth is solid. They just can't hang with the Suns when their best player is out.
The Waiver Wire Move
Grayson Allen is trending up in ownership (+1.2%) and honestly, I get it. But pump the brakes. He played great tonight because Booker was out. Once Book comes back and the Suns are healthy, Allen goes back to fighting for 25 minutes off the bench. In 12-team leagues, sure, add him if you need a 3-point specialist. In 10-team or shallower, wait to see how many minutes he gets when Booker returns. Don't chase this.
Bottom Line
The Suns showed they can win without Booker thanks to Brooks' explosion, but that's not a repeatable formula. The Pistons couldn't generate enough offense alongside their dynamic duo. If you own Cunningham and Duren, you're not panicking. If you own Booker, find out his status ASAP. And if you picked up Allen thinking he's a plug-and-play, think again. This was a spot start that won't repeat.