Phoenix Suns stay alive for Summer League semifinals after win
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Phoenix Suns stay alive for Summer League semifinals after win
Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic·AZCentral | The Arizona Republic
·
3 min read
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ThePhoenix Sunscontinued Summer League play July 15 with a 100-88 win over theDetroit Pistonsat Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Khaman Maluachposted a fourth straight double-double of 23 points and 15 rebounds.Rasheer Flemingwent for 22 points, going 4-of-6 from 3, and rookie Koa Peat added 19 points.
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Peat was able to return from an awkward fall in the fourth quarter and finish the game on the court.
Fleming posted 17 points in the first half for Phoenix, going 3-of-4 from 3, in leading the Suns to a 53-46 halftime lead.
The Suns forward entered the game averaging 8.6 points through three games.
As a team, Phoenix shot 53% from the field in the first half. Peat had nine points while Maluach was on his way to a fourth straight double-double with six points and six rebounds.
Brice Williamspaced the Pistons (1-2) with a game-high 24 points.
The Suns (3-1) have won back-to-back games and will play a fifth summer game. The opponent had yet to be determined prior to the July 16 games, but Phoenix remains in the hunt for the Summer League tournament semifinals. The top four teams advance to the semis.
Phoenix Suns forward Koa Peat speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
Phoenix Suns forward Koa Peat speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
Phoenix Suns forward Koa Peat speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
Phoenix Suns forward Koa Peat speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
Phoenix Suns center Khaman Maluach speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
Phoenix Suns center Khaman Maluach speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming shoots the ball at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
Phoenix Sunsguard Koby Brea practices at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
Phoenix Suns center Khaman Maluach speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
Phoenix Suns assistant coach Chaisson Allen speaks with the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
Phoenix Suns assistant coach Chaisson Allen speaks with the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
Phoenix Suns assistant coach Chaisson Allen speaks with the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
Phoenix Suns assistant coach Chaisson Allen speaks with the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
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Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns forward Koa Peat speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
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Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns forward Koa Peat speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
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Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns forward Koa Peat speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
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Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns forward Koa Peat speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
4/17
Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns forward Koa Peat speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
5/17
Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns center Khaman Maluach speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
6/17
Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns center Khaman Maluach speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
7/17
Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming shoots the ball at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
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Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
9/17
Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Sunsguard Koby Brea practices at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
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Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
11/17
Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
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Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
13/17
Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns center Khaman Maluach speaks to the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
14/17
Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns assistant coach Chaisson Allen speaks with the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
15/17
Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns assistant coach Chaisson Allen speaks with the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
16/17
Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns assistant coach Chaisson Allen speaks with the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
17/17
Phoenix Suns, including rookie Koa Peat, gear up for Summer League
Phoenix Suns assistant coach Chaisson Allen speaks with the media at the Suns 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on July 6, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
The Suns have a plus-3.8 average point differential, which is a tiebreaker for two teams after head-to-head matchup and head-to-head record.
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Phoenix is fourth behind theLos Angeles Lakers(3-0),Atlanta Hawks(3-0) andSan Antonio Spurs(3-1). The Lakers are plus 5.7, the Hawks are plus 15.3 and the Spurs are plus 4.0 in point differential.
The Suns needed help in multiple ways from July 16 games to maintain a top-four spot. Scheduled games were Lakers vs.Bulls(1-2), Hawks vs. Grizzlies, Nets vs. Rockets and Warriors vs.Knicks(1-2).
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin atdmrankin@gannett.comor contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at@DuaneRankin.
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