The Suns and Pistons barely tipped off their NBA preseason opener before things went absolutely wild between newcomer John Collins and the always-antagonistic Dillon Brooks, with Collins grabbing Brooks by the throat less than five minutes into the game. It was a preseason game, sure, but man, did it set a tone. Collins, who signed a three-year, $51 million deal with Detroit this summer, showed everyone he’s not messing around.
Brooks Pushes Every Single Button
So, here’s how it all went down. Less than five minutes into the first quarter, with the Suns up 13-9, Collins was trying to get position in the lane. Brooks, who was the last Sun back on defense, decided to give Detroit’s new power forward a less-than-friendly welcome. Collins was working to cross to the right block for a pass when Brooks pulled the chair on him, sliding over and sending Collins sliding across the floor.
As Collins started to get up, Brooks was right there, pressing a forearm into his back. Collins finally got to his feet and started to space out toward the right corner, but Brooks wasn’t done. He extended another forearm, this time directly into Collins’ chest. You could practically see Collins looking at the officials like, “Seriously, guys, are you seeing this?” Then, new Piston Isaiah Joe launched a three-pointer, and Collins went to crash the offensive glass. Brooks, of course, faced him up and bodied him, trying to stop him from getting the rebound. It didn’t work. Collins pulled down the board, and Brooks swiped down at the ball, catching Collins in the face. Finally, Brooks just wrapped Collins up with both arms, drawing a foul call.
The Aftermath: Fouls, Free Throws, and a Fiery Debut
That whistle, though? It wasn’t nearly enough for Collins. He decided to take matters into his own hands and went right for Brooks’ throat. You just knew things were about to explode. Players and coaches swarmed in to keep it from turning into an all-out brawl, and the officials had to review the whole thing. The verdict: Collins got a flagrant foul-1 for “contact around the neck.” Brooks, for all his antics, only got a technical foul for “unsportsmanlike contact.” The Pistons got one free throw out of it, while the Suns got two plus possession. Yeah, advantage Brooks on the free throws.
Even with all that drama, Detroit still snagged the win, beating Phoenix 109-107, thanks to a game-winning layup from rookie guard Ebuka Okorie. Brooks ended his 15 minutes of work with 11 points, two rebounds, and four personal fouls, which honestly, after leading the NBA in technicals last season, feels about right for his preseason debut. Collins, in his 16 minutes as a Piston, chipped in 10 points, three rebounds, and two steals. After the game, Collins was all smiles. He told reporters, “I wasn’t necessarily trying to set that tone… But I’m glad I did.” He added, “Sometimes, you just gotta go out there and play basketball, and the game gets physical. I’m gonna go out there and compete every night. Guys do what they do; you know, we’re gonna play basketball. Can’t control every aspect of the game. Just gotta go out there and hoop.” If that’s the kind of competitor Detroit got for $51 million, fans are gonna love this guy all season long.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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