The Phoenix Suns open their 2026 preseason schedule on the road against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on October 5. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. MST as the team begins a five-game exhibition slate, aiming to shake off a tough end to their previous campaign where they lost their final four games, including a 122-131 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 28.
The Suns have five preseason contests this year, one more than their four-game schedule last season which included two games in Macau, China. After opening in Detroit, they travel to face the Chicago Bulls on October 7 at 5 p.m. MST. These road games provide early tests against a Pistons team that posted the Eastern Conference's best record last season at 60-22 and a Bulls squad searching for its first winning season since 2021-22.
Team owner Mat Ishbia is bullish on the team's core. "We have a playoff-level team," Ishbia said. "Got a superstar in Devin Booker, great players on top of that, and we got young guys that are getting better." The Suns returned to the playoffs last season with their star trio of Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal after missing out the year before. But Ishbia also stressed the need for constant growth, noting that "winning is fragile, and culture is fragile." He wants the team to build year after year.
The Suns' playoff run concluded with a difficult first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This preseason is a first step in turning that late-season momentum around.
Facing the Detroit Pistons is no soft launch. Detroit, led by All-NBA point guard Cade Cunningham, reached the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season, losing to Cleveland in seven games. It's a high-level opponent right away. Ishbia has previously had the team visit his company, United Wholesale Mortgage, or his Michigan home when playing in Detroit, adding a personal touch to the trip. For fans tracking the team's progress, the full preseason and regular season schedule can be found on our schedule page.
The preseason is about evaluation and rhythm. With Booker, Durant, and Beal leading the way, Phoenix has the firepower. But integrating roles and establishing a defensive identity will be key after those late-season struggles. These exhibitions are the first chance to see how the Suns plan to address those issues before the real games begin.
