Suns Tripped Up Again by Pistons

The Phoenix Suns have lost as many games in the last week as they had all season.

Tayshaun Prince scored a career-high 26 points to lead the Detroit Pistons past slumping Phoenix, 94-80, on Monday, handing the NBA-leading Suns their fourth consecutive loss.

After opening the season 31-4, Phoenix went 0-4 on its trip.

“It’s time to go home,” Sun Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “It has been a tough road trip. Obviously, they beat us on the boards, beat us all day, beat us up, beat us in anything you want to talk about.

“When you are a middleweight and they are a heavyweight and you cannot run around the ring, they are going to catch you and pound you and that’s what they did to us.”

Prince deflected praise for his best offensive game in the NBA as if he were swatting a shot with his long, lanky arms.

“I definitely have to credit my teammates, especially the guys inside,” said Prince, who scored on an assortment of dunks, runners, mid-range jumpers and a three-pointer. “When they play that way, it just opens things up.”

Prince has averaged 20.3 points in his last three games, about eight above his average, and made the game-winning shot Saturday against Philadelphia.

The Suns found out -- again -- just how valuable Steve Nash is to their team.

They were held to a season-low point total, clearly missing Nash, who was sidelined for a second consecutive game because of a bruised left thigh. The point guard hopes to play Wednesday against Memphis.

“Obviously, their team is different without Steve Nash,” said Detroit guard Chauncey Billups, whose team has won six in a row. “But I just thought we played good.”