Suns' Dillon Brooks says Pistons' John Collins tried to choke him

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CHICAGO – Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks is questioning why he received a technical foul for his dustup with Detroit Pistons big John Collins in a preseason game on Oct. 5.

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Brooks and Collins got into it in the first quarter of Phoenix’s 109-107 loss at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, to the point they needed to be separated.

“Some people can't take the competitive physicality and he probably felt embarrassed when he tried to hit me and he fell to the ground,” Brooks said after Tuesday’s Oct. 6 practice at Hope Christian Academy Fieldhouse in Chicago.

“And then, knowing me, I just like to do insult to injury. So, when he's getting up, I'm right on him again and he ran to the corner, wanted no smoke, and then, once he saw the shot go up, he felt like he had that chance to get a hit on me.”

Collins grabbed an offensive rebound with Brooks on him. When Brooks reached around Collins and was making contact, Collins reacted and put his hand in Brooks’ face.

“Then got the hit on me, and then I'm like, I'm not letting you go up,” Brooks continued. “And then he turns around, and tries to choke me, and put his hands on me, and that's why I don't get why I got the technical foul. I mean, I didn't start nothing. I'm playing within the game. I try to bet on myself, but I'm betting against the house.” 

Brooks was given a technical while Collins drew a flagrant one with 7:23 left in the first quarter.

Brooks led the NBA in technical fouls last season with 17. Collins had just two techs a season ago, as he’s in his first season with Detroit.

The Suns play the Pistons twice in the regular season – Dec. 16 in Detroit and Feb. 10 in Phoenix.

Suns at Bulls on Oct. 7

The Suns were scheduled to play their second preseason game on Wednesday, Oct. 7, against the Chicago Bulls at United Center at 4 p.m. This will be Chicago’s first preseason game of the season.

“The defense will be different,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said about the Bulls. “It’ll look different. They’re offense, I’m sure they will play super fast. That’s what I imagine.”

The Suns led by as many as 19 points over the Pistons in the first half, but Ott rested the starting unit of Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Miles Bridges, Oso Ighodaro and Brooks.

Detroit outscored Phoenix, 59-39, in the second half.

“I know we built the lead, but we were talking to that second and third group, everything is an audition,” Booker said. “It’s going to be a point and time that one or two of you guys, we’re going to need you guys to get a win. Treat it like a regular season game, do anything we can to get a win.”

More Booker, Brooks and Green

Ott went into Monday’s preseason opener with an emphasis on having Jalen Green, Booker and Brooks share the court.

They played just 133 minutes together in 10 total games last season.

Green missed 50 games due mostly to a right hamstring injury and Brooks sat out 18 consecutive games late in the regular season with a fractured left hand.

In Monday’s preseason action, Booker, Green and Brooks played the first 6:37 minutes of the game before Collin Gillespie replaced Green with 5:07 left in the first quarter.

The Suns led 20-13 at that point.

“We got out there, we were moving the ball, playing with pace,” Green said. “Feel like we did a good job.”

Then Booker, Green and Brooks resumed sharing the floor with 7:26 left in the first half. Green checked out with 1:54 remaining; the Suns had increased their advantage to 62-47.

“It was great on both ends,” Ott said. “Defensively, I think our intent was in the right place. Got to show our physicality, our aggressiveness and defensively, we moved it. Tried to make an emphasis of running early in every possession. Use the pass to kick it ahead and play in space.”

Before leaving Detroit

The Suns visited team owner Mat Ishbia’s United Wholesale Mortgage on Oct. 6 before heading to Chicago later that afternoon.

“Had a great time hosting the Phoenix Suns at UWM today!,” Ishbia posted on X. “They spent time touring our campus, visiting with team members, and got to see what we’ve built here to become the #1 mortgage lender in America. Always love seeing our Phoenix Suns and UWM cultures come together, as we both are focused on taking great care of our people, caring about our clients/fans, and winning."

Ishbia has either had the team take a tour of his company or visit his house in suburban Detroit when the Suns have played the Pistons on the road since taking ownership of the team during the 2022-23 season.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns' Dillon Brooks says Pistons' John Collins tried to choke him

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