By TERRY FOSTER
The Detroit News
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- It isn't often that Pistons backup point guard Will Bynum is the best player on the floor. But for one magical second half he was Saturday night, as he sparked the otherwise listless Pistons to a 75-74 victory over the Phoenix Suns at The Palace.
He did it with energy and defense, and his teammates followed his lead. Ben Wallace, Tayshaun Prince and Ben Gordon sparked a 24-8 closing run to stun the Suns and end their five-game winning streak.
Bynum finished with 12 points, three assists and four rebounds.
The Pistons, who showed little energy for much of the game, erased a 15-point fourth quarter deficit to stun the Suns and Bynum was a major reason. But it was Austin Daye who hit the big shot when his jumper rattled in with 53 seconds left to put the Pistons up 71-70.
"I felt like we were lacking energy," Bynum said. "I wanted to let my efforts do the talking and hopefully everybody else would follow."
Pistons coach John Kuester went with Bynum over Rodney Stuckey and Tracy McGrady, who appeared sluggish on the second of back to back nights. They combined for 4-for-20 shooting and 14 points. The Pistons were headed for doom again as they trailed 61-47 heading into the final quarter.
That is when Kid Byn-o-mite took over.
"We were looking for players who would enable us to get back into the game and possibly win it," Kuester said. "That is what Will was giving us."
He stripped Steve Nash in the lane for a layup to start the rally and stayed on Nash for much of the fourth. Nash was held to 14 points and eight assists and wilted near the end.
"I had kind of sniffed it out in the third quarter that this was the type of game it was going to be," Bynum said. "We had been traveling a lot and guys were tired. I wanted to give it my all and everybody else would follow."
They did. Ben Gordon hit a big shot during the rally. Ben Wallace punched an important tip off a miss to Tayshaun Prince, who led the Pistons with 17 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
But it was Daye who hit the big 3-point bucket off a feed from Bynum.
"I've always taken shots like that," Daye said. "My team has always looked for me to take shots like that. Now I am in a different situation. I am not the most skilled player right now and I am not the star player on this team. For them to have confidence in me to take that shot, it gives me more confidence when I take the shot."
Bynum's rebound and two free throws with 3 seconds remaining for a 75-71 lead sealed it. That made Channing Frye's 3-point basket at the buzzer meaningless.
The Pistons shot just 35.8 percent, but had 10 steals and eight turnovers.
The Suns were listless as well, playing the fourth of five games on a trip that concludes Monday in Philadelphia and will cover 6,475 miles. Former Piston Grant Hill made 4 of 14 shots and scored eight points.
Daye and Stuckey finished with 11 points each.
Jan. 23, 2011
