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What We Learned From #SunsAtPistons

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The Eastern Conference continues to hold the cures to the Suns' early-season woes. Two nights after edging Boston on the road, Phoenix gutted out another close win at Detroit.

The 88-86 victory was far from a pretty affair, but the Suns can perhaps take even more encouragement from that fact. That and more got our attention on Wednesday night.

4. Tucker Played Big vs. the Bigs

With Miles Plumlee and Alex Len getting into early foul trouble, Suns Head Coach Jeff Hornacek turned to his most rugged undersized option.

Tucker, who played plenty of power forward during his international playing days, responded exactly the way Phoenix needed him to. He kept Detroit's big trio of Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond and Josh Smith from completely dominating the glass while hitting a handful of big shots on the other end.

3. Keef's Defense Saved the Game

Phoenix was in real danger of seeing Detroit steal this game in the closing minutes. A late 9-0 Pistons run turned an eight-point Suns lead into a one-point deficit.

After Eric Bledsoe put the Suns back on top, Markieff Morris sealed the game on the other end. After deflecting an interior pass that nearly found Monroe underneath, Morris  came up with the play of the night, blocking Jennings' potential go-ahead floater with five seconds left.

The play could not have been better executed. Morris waited to leave his man until it was clear Jennings had committed to the shot, then had the reaction speed and timing to block it despite the minuscule window of time in which to do it.

2. Bledsoe Managed the Game Well

Bledsoe's Sweet Take

Whether it was deciding to score himself or hitting his teammates on the move, Eric Bledsoe picked his spots extremely well in this game. The fifth-year guard finished with 18 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.

Most impressively, he stepped up when it mattered most late in the game. After Detroit briefly took the lead with 34 seconds left, Bledsoe used a screen, then completely lost his help defender with a misdirection dribble. His lay-up was contested by  third defender, but he converted it anyway. That basket and a Bledsoe free throw polished off the final margin of victory.

1. Phoenix Won Outside Its Comfort Zone

This was an ugly game. There's no getting around it. Between  17 turnovers, a 4-for-15 showing from three or the 15 offensive rebounds they gave up, the Suns had little consistently going for them throughout the game.

That, however, could be most encouraging sign of the night. Detroit turned the contest into a plodding, frustrating affair, and the Suns stayed in control and pulled out the win.

Phoenix still has plenty of work ahead of them, plenty of ground to cover in order to reach its potential. If they can scrape out wins like this in the meantime, they'll be better off for it.