DETROIT _ The Detroit Pistons' postseason chances were sinking fast Sunday afternoon.
Backup center Aron Baynes tossed his team a life preserver.
With the Pistons trailing by 12 early in the second half to the Phoenix Suns junior varsity, Baynes keyed the Pistons' surge and finished with 13 points and 17 rebounds in a 112-95 victory at the Palace.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (23 points) and Marcus Morris (16 points) broke out of shooting slumps, and combined to shoot 13-for-23, as the Pistons (34-36) snapped a three-game losing streak.
Andre Drummond finished with 18 points and 18 rebounds.
The Pistons also moved to within a half-game of the Eastern Conference's eighth and final playoff spot with 12 games remaining.
The Suns (22-48), who have waved the white flag on the season, sat Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker (Grand Rapids) and ex-Piston Brandon Knight.
Rookie guard Tyler Ulis scored 15 points and added 11 assists for the Suns.
Morris and Caldwell-Pope scored well in the first half, combining for 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting.
But the offensive struggles continued _ even against the depleted Suns.
The Suns used a little zone when Ish Smith was on the floor and he proceeded to go 0-for-6. Jon Leuer was 0-for-5.
The Suns took a 49-47 lead at halftime after holding the Pistons to 37.3 percent shooting.
There has been a rising chorus against the practice of resting players late in the season.
In the Suns' case, it's a short-term attempt to affect draft positioning, but Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy declined to criticize the practice before the game.
"Everybody's got their philosophy on what to do, and everybody's got reasons for what they do so I don't worry about why other people are doing what they do," Van Gundy said. "Everybody's doing what's best for their team, and their organization, and it's different for everybody."
