John Collins grabs Dillon Brooks' throat mere minutes into Pistons-Suns preseason opener

If you found yourself wondering how long it would take Dillon Brooks to shake off any offseason rust and rediscover his customary villainous rhythm, or how long it would take newcomer John Collins to show the same kind of physical, pugnacious edge that defined Detroit's rise to the top of the Eastern Conference last season, Monday's NBA preseason opener between the Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons delivered your answer:

With the Suns holding a 13-9 lead early in the first quarter, Collins — who joined the Pistons on a three-year, $51 million contract in free agency this summer — ran to establish position in the lane. Brooks, the last Sun back on defense, stepped up to extend a not-so-warm greeting to Detroit's new power forward. As Collins worked to cross to the right block to look for an entry pass, Brooks pulled the chair and slid over to his high side, resulting in Collins falling and sliding across the floor.

As Collins started to get up, Brooks pressed right up on him, extending a forearm into the Piston's back. After Collins regained his feet and began to space out toward the right corner, Brooks extended a forearm again, this time directly into Collins' chest. (You can see Collins raising his arms out to his sides, as if to say to the officials, "You guys see this, right?")

After fellow new Piston Isaiah Joe launched a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer from the left wing, Collins started to crash the offensive glass from the corner. Brooks faced him and bodied him up to try to keep him from corralling the board. He was unsuccessful, though; after Collins came down with the rebound, Brooks swiped down at the ball with his left hand, catching Collins in the face. Eventually, Brooks wrapped Collins up with both arms, resulting in a foul call.

The whistle, however, didn't seem like quite enough of a sanction for Brooks to Collins, who chose to take matters — and Brooks' throat — into his own hands.

After players and coaches swarmed in to prevent a dust-up from turning into a donnybrook, the officials reviewed the incident and meted out discipline: a flagrant foul-1 for Collins for "contact around the neck," and a technical foul on Brooks "for his unsportsmanlike contact." The Pistons got one free throw; the Suns got two, plus possession. (Advantage: Brooks.)

Detroit won the preseason affair, 109-107 , on a game-winning layup by rookie guard Ebuka Okorie.

Brooks, who led the NBA in technical fouls last season , finished with 11 points, two rebounds and four personal fouls in 15 minutes of work in his preseason debut. Collins chipped in 10 points, three rebounds and a pair of steals in 16 minutes in his first action as a Piston — an appearance that featured the kind of action that'll likely endear him to the Detroit faithful.

"I mean, I wasn't necessarily trying to set that tone," a smiling Collins told reporters after the game. "But I'm glad I did. 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."