Getty Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns.
The Phoenix Suns head to Little Caesar’s Arena on October 8 to take on the Detroit Pistons in preseason NBA action.
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The game will be televised locally on Bally Sports Detroit (Pistons markets) and nationally on NBA TV, but if you don’t have cable or don’t have those channels, you can watch a live stream for free on FuboTV, DirecTV Stream or Amazon Prime.
Here’s how:
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” Bally Sports Detroit (local markets) and NBA TV are included in “Choice” and up, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch the Suns vs Pistons live on the DirecTV Stream app or DirecTV Stream website.
Compatible devices for the DirecTV Stream app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
FuboTV
You can watch a live stream of Bally Sports Detroit (local markets), NBA TV and 100-plus other TV channels on FuboTV. You’ll need the “Sports Plus” add-on for NBA TV, but any packages and add-ons can be included in your free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch the Suns vs Pistons live on the FuboTV app or FuboTV website.
Compatible devices for the FuboTV app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime subscribers (Prime comes with a 30-day free trial) can watch a live stream of NBA TV via Prime Channels. You can try both Amazon Prime and the NBA TV Channel at no cost with a free trial right here:
Once you’re signed up for the Prime NBA TV Channel, you can watch the Suns vs Pistons live on the Amazon Video app or Amazon website.
Compatible devices for the Amazon Video app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, various smart TV’s, Xiaomi, Echo Show or Echo Spot, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
Sling TV
If you’ve used up all your free trials for other streaming services, Sling TV is the cheapest live-TV streaming service that includes this game. NBA TV is included in the “Sling Orange + Sports Extra” bundle, which is just $31 for your first month:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch the Suns vs Pistons live on the Sling TV app or Sling TV website.
Compatible devices for the Sling TV app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), airTV Mini, Oculus, Portal, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
Suns vs Pistons Preview
The Suns finished fourth in the Western Conference last year with a 45-37 mark, ultimately falling in the Conference Semifinals in six games to eventual champion Denver Nuggets.
Both of the Suns’ returning superstars, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, will play in this game. “Those guys are going to play in Detroit, but they’re not going to play much,” new Suns head coach Frank Vogel said. “Just get their feet wet and get the feel of a real game against not ourselves. First game, try to get everybody in so everybody gets to execute our system and our schemes against another opponent.”
Whether guard Bradley Beal and big man Jusuf Nurkic will see any minutes, Vogel did not say, but neither is dealing with any ailments, so it’s a definite possibility.
On the other side, the Pistons finished with a league-worst 17-65 record last season. Detroit drafted two highly-touted rookies in Ausar Thompson and Marcus Sasser, and both should see the court here. Detroit will be without forward Bojan Bogdanovic, who is dealing with a low-grade right calf strain. Thompson and Sasser could both play more in Bogdanovic’s absence.
“It’s one of those deals where we’re being really cautious with him,” Pistons head coach Monty Williams said about the veteran center. “He’s been on the floor doing a little bit, but not enough where he can get in a game. We just want to be as careful as we can. The calf is a tricky thing and I think he’s had a history of calf injuries so our guys are doing the best we can to, not bring him along slowly, but bring him along so he can be effective when he gets back out there.”
The Pistons should also have third-year standout Cade Cunningham back after he had season-ending surgery due to a stress fracture in his shin last December. Cunningham says the air surrounding the team feels a bit different heading into the season.
“We have a chip on our shoulder I think.” Cunningham said. “Everybody’s ready to get out there and prove something not individually, but prove that us as a team, as a collective, we’re ready to compete and make noise in this league.”