Phoenix Suns’ preseason schedule includes visit to Michigan State to face Pistons

The Phoenix Suns’ preseason schedule for the 2024-25 season includes a visit to face the Detroit Pistons at Michigan State University and an opener against the Los Angeles Lakers in Palm Desert, California.

The Oct. 8 game at the Breslin Center was announced Wednesday after the Suns’ four other games were revealed in August.

The visit to Michigan State’s Breslin Center is the first at the location for the Suns, whose owner Mat Ishbia graduated from Michigan State and played four years on the Spartans’ basketball team. Pistons owner Tim Gores is also a Michigan State graduate.

“From being a walk-on at Michigan State on the national championship team, to now being able to bring the Phoenix Suns to play at Breslin Center, this is a full circle moment and an incredibly special experience,” Ishbia said in a release.

“MSU and (head basketball coach Tom) Izzo have had an immeasurable impact on my life and my career, and I wouldn’t be where I am today, including owner of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, without Coach Izzo’s mentorship. I can’t wait to bring the Spartan community and Phoenix Suns together.”

Phoenix will play under head coach Mike Budenholzer for the first time in the preseason against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 6 in Palm Desert, California, before heading to East Lansing, Michigan.

Michigan State has hosted preseason NBA games in 2000 and 2018 before this year’s Suns-Pistons meeting.

“We’re excited to welcome the Pistons and the Suns to Breslin Center – two teams we’re fortunate enough to have great relationships with and close ties to our school and our team,” Izzo said in the release. “Having an NBA game on campus featuring two Spartan alums as owners shows the power of Michigan State and the talent and quality of people that come from our great University. It’s an honor to call Tom Gores a friend and everyone knows the special bond I share with Mat having coached him as a former player in our program. I’m excited for the game and the opportunity to showcase NBA basketball to our MSU basketball fans and everyone here in the East Lansing community.”

The Suns will return to Phoenix after the game at MSU to host the Pistons on Oct. 11 at Footprint Center before traveling to Denver to face the Nuggets two days later.

The Suns wrap up preseason play at Footprint Center on Oct. 17 against the Lakers, six days before the season opener at the Los Angeles Clippers’ new arena.

Phoenix follows up a 2023-24 campaign that ended with 49 wins but a massively disappointing postseason result, a sweep in the first round at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Suns fired head coach Frank Vogel and replaced him with Budenholzer.

Phoenix Suns’ preseason schedule for 2024-25

Sunday, Oct. 6 vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 6:30 p.m. MST (Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, California)

Tuesday, Oct. 8 at Detroit Pistons, 4 p.m. MST (Breslin Center, East Lansing, Michigan)

Friday, Oct. 11 vs. Detroit Pistons, 7 p.m. MST

Sunday, Oct. 13 at Denver Nuggets, 5:30 p.m. MST — ESPN

Thursday, Oct. 17 vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 7 p.m. MST — TNT

The Phoenix Suns open the 2024-25 regular season at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Here is the Suns’ full regular season schedule.

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