PHOENIX _ It looked like the Detroit Pistons were going for a repeat of Monday night's performance at Cleveland.
But after allowing the Phoenix Suns to shoot nearly 70 percent in the first quarter, the necessary defensive disposition for a playoff push showed up at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Thursday night.
The Pistons held the Suns to 38 points in the second half of a 118-98 victory to win the first game of a crucial four-game trip against Western Conference foes.
After receiving a night of rest in Monday's loss to the Cavaliers, Blake Griffin struggled through a 4-for-17 shooting night, although he did have 17 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.
The Pistons (37-34) are sixth in the Eastern Conference playoff chase, one game in front of the Brooklyn Nets, who hold the tiebreaker over the Pistons.
The Pistons are two games in front of the eighth-place Miami Heat.
The competition gets tougher on the trip with games at playoff teams in Portland, Golden State and Denver.
The Pistons defensive effort was the main reason for the victory over the woeful Suns (17-56).
After Suns star Devin Booker started the game hot, the Pistons blitzed Booker whenever he initiated pick-and-rolls. He was limited to 11 points over the final three quarters.
Wayne Ellington scored 23 points on 6-for-10 3-point shooting and Luke Kennard added 16 points.
Andre Drummond scored 16 points, grabbed 19 rebounds and added three steals.
The Pistons were 17-for-42 from 3-point range (40.5 percent).
The Suns shut down Kelly Oubre (left thumb), Tyler Johnson (sore right knee) and T.J. Warren (right ankle) for the season Thursday afternoon.
The Pistons' defensive issues of the Cavs loss carried over to Thursday.
Led by Booker's scored 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting, the Suns shot 68 percent in the first quarter to take a 32-29 lead.
After the NBA All-Star break, Pistons coach Dwane Casey spoke of five series of five games each for the final stretch of the season. The Pistons went 5-0, 4-1 and are now 2-2 in this five-game portion.
