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On the second night of a back-to-back, a dominant performance from Jalen Duren led the Detroit Pistons to victory.
They crushed the New Orleans Pelicans at home, 129-108, on Thursday, March 26. The Pistons were shorthanded – Duncan Robinson (right wrist injury management) and Caris LeVert (left knee soreness) were both out along with Cade Cunningham (left lung pneumothorax) and Isaiah Stewart (left calf strain).
But Duren was still on the court at Little Caesars Arena, as he stepped up with one of his best all-around games – 30 points, 10 rebounds, seven, two steals and two blocks. Kevin Huerter, who started for Robinson, had his most productive outing in a Pistons uniform, with 22 points on 9-for-14 shooting (and 4-for-7 shooting from 3). Daniss Jenkins finished with 19 points and nine assists, knocking down five of seven 3-pointers, and Tobias Harris added 12 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
AWARD SZN: NBPA pushing to save Cade Cunningham award eligibility with Pistons
The Pistons shot 15-for-28 (53.6%) from 3 and outscored the Pelicans, 37-22, in the fourth while holding them to 35.7% overall (10-for-28). A 15-2 Pistons run early in the fourth quarter put them in control for good, extending a four-point lead to 17, 107-90, with 8:45 remaining. The run was punctuated by back-to-back highlights that brought the LCA crowd to its feet.
First, Duren passed the ball to Huerter downcourt and immediately received it back with a head of steam, setting up a one-handed poster dunk by Duren on Pelicans rookie big Derek Queen. The next possession, Ron Holland lost his defender with a behind-the-back dribble and found Jenkins in the corner for a 3-pointer.
Both ends of the floor clicked for the Pistons in the second quarter, as they outscored the Pelicans, 34-23, to enter halftime with a 65-56 lead. A strong performance from behind the arc (47.1%, or 8-for-17 overall) lifted their offense, and defensively they held the Pelicans to 40% shooting (8-for-20) after giving up 33 points in the first.
With the win, the Pistons (53-20) stretched their lead over the Boston Celtics (idle Thursday) to 4½ games in the race for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Detroit also dropped its magic number to clinch homecourt throughout the East playoffs to five (a combination of Pistons wins and Celtics losses). The Pistons have already clinched a top-four spot in the East, and homecourt in the first round. Detroit also improved to eight games up on the Cleveland Cavaliers (also idle on Thursday) with nine to play in the Central Division, as the Pistons hunt their first Central title since the 2007-08 season (which was also the season of their most recent playoff series victory). The Pistons’ magic number in the Central is down to two.
That means the Pistons could clinch the Central the next time they take the court, against the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Saturday (5:30 p.m., ABC), if the Cavs fall to the Heat on Friday night and the Pistons take down the T’wolves (45-28), who sit fifth in the West. After that, the Pistons wrap up March with a visit to Oklahoma City on March 30 to face the West-leading Thunder and then a return home to face the Toronto Raptors on March 31.
Huerter has been a reliable all-around contributor since he became a full-time part of the rotation March 5. His performance against the Pelicans – in his first start with the Pistons – showcased the scoring upside that made him a trade deadline target.
The 3-point shooting was the most notable part of his night. A career 36.8% shooter from outside, Huerter had only knocked down 10 of 52 (19.2%) with the Pistons entering Thursday. His four makes tied his season high, and he knocked them down off the catch and off stepbacks. It was the Robinson impersonation the Pistons needed.
Beyond scoring, Huerter has been a sharp passer and decision-maker. He has also been solid defensively, filling several needs for a Pistons team lacking consistent shotmaking and playmaking without Cunningham.
"He’s a better all around basketball player, too, than I think people give him credit for," coach J.B. Bickerstaff said before the game. "His playmaking ability, his ability to beat guys off the bounce, his ability to play the pick and roll and make the right reads in the pick and roll, all those things he does at a really high level."
The rising star tied his career high with seven assists and had his best game of the season with the ball. It was as confident as he has looked at any point in his career, and he kept the offense moving with touchdown passes, lobs and reads out of the high post.
During back-to-back possessions early in the third quarter, he pushed the ball in transition and found Harris for an alley-oop, then threw a one-handed full court pass to Ausar Thompson, placed perfectly for an open dunk to push the Pistons' lead to 14, 75-61.
The 22-year-old entered Thursday averaging 23.3 points and 11.1 rebounds in 18 games since returning from a two-game suspension. Cunningham's injury has ceded a larger workload for Duren, and he has stepped up by proving he can be a go-to scorer while also impacting the game defensively and as a playmaker.
Watch our podcast, "The Pistons Pulse," discuss the Cade Cunningham injury fallout, the playoff chase and more:
Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky and/or X @omarisankofa.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jalen Duren reigns again as Detroit Pistons pound New Orleans Pistons
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They crushed the New Orleans Pelicans at home, 129-108, on Thursday, March 26. The Pistons were shorthanded – Duncan Robinson (right wrist injury management) and Caris LeVert (left knee soreness) were both out along with Cade Cunningham (left lung pneumothorax) and Isaiah Stewart (left calf strain).
But Duren was still on the court at Little Caesars Arena, as he stepped up with one of his best all-around games – 30 points, 10 rebounds, seven, two steals and two blocks. Kevin Huerter, who started for Robinson, had his most productive outing in a Pistons uniform, with 22 points on 9-for-14 shooting (and 4-for-7 shooting from 3). Daniss Jenkins finished with 19 points and nine assists, knocking down five of seven 3-pointers, and Tobias Harris added 12 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
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AWARD SZN: NBPA pushing to save Cade Cunningham award eligibility with Pistons
The Pistons shot 15-for-28 (53.6%) from 3 and outscored the Pelicans, 37-22, in the fourth while holding them to 35.7% overall (10-for-28). A 15-2 Pistons run early in the fourth quarter put them in control for good, extending a four-point lead to 17, 107-90, with 8:45 remaining. The run was punctuated by back-to-back highlights that brought the LCA crowd to its feet.
First, Duren passed the ball to Huerter downcourt and immediately received it back with a head of steam, setting up a one-handed poster dunk by Duren on Pelicans rookie big Derek Queen. The next possession, Ron Holland lost his defender with a behind-the-back dribble and found Jenkins in the corner for a 3-pointer.
Both ends of the floor clicked for the Pistons in the second quarter, as they outscored the Pelicans, 34-23, to enter halftime with a 65-56 lead. A strong performance from behind the arc (47.1%, or 8-for-17 overall) lifted their offense, and defensively they held the Pelicans to 40% shooting (8-for-20) after giving up 33 points in the first.
Detroit Pistons playoff picture
With the win, the Pistons (53-20) stretched their lead over the Boston Celtics (idle Thursday) to 4½ games in the race for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Detroit also dropped its magic number to clinch homecourt throughout the East playoffs to five (a combination of Pistons wins and Celtics losses). The Pistons have already clinched a top-four spot in the East, and homecourt in the first round. Detroit also improved to eight games up on the Cleveland Cavaliers (also idle on Thursday) with nine to play in the Central Division, as the Pistons hunt their first Central title since the 2007-08 season (which was also the season of their most recent playoff series victory). The Pistons’ magic number in the Central is down to two.
Next up for the Pistons
That means the Pistons could clinch the Central the next time they take the court, against the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Saturday (5:30 p.m., ABC), if the Cavs fall to the Heat on Friday night and the Pistons take down the T’wolves (45-28), who sit fifth in the West. After that, the Pistons wrap up March with a visit to Oklahoma City on March 30 to face the West-leading Thunder and then a return home to face the Toronto Raptors on March 31.
Kevin Huerter carving out glue-guy role
Huerter has been a reliable all-around contributor since he became a full-time part of the rotation March 5. His performance against the Pelicans – in his first start with the Pistons – showcased the scoring upside that made him a trade deadline target.
The 3-point shooting was the most notable part of his night. A career 36.8% shooter from outside, Huerter had only knocked down 10 of 52 (19.2%) with the Pistons entering Thursday. His four makes tied his season high, and he knocked them down off the catch and off stepbacks. It was the Robinson impersonation the Pistons needed.
Beyond scoring, Huerter has been a sharp passer and decision-maker. He has also been solid defensively, filling several needs for a Pistons team lacking consistent shotmaking and playmaking without Cunningham.
"He’s a better all around basketball player, too, than I think people give him credit for," coach J.B. Bickerstaff said before the game. "His playmaking ability, his ability to beat guys off the bounce, his ability to play the pick and roll and make the right reads in the pick and roll, all those things he does at a really high level."
Jalen Duren showcases playmaking, paint dominance
The rising star tied his career high with seven assists and had his best game of the season with the ball. It was as confident as he has looked at any point in his career, and he kept the offense moving with touchdown passes, lobs and reads out of the high post.
During back-to-back possessions early in the third quarter, he pushed the ball in transition and found Harris for an alley-oop, then threw a one-handed full court pass to Ausar Thompson, placed perfectly for an open dunk to push the Pistons' lead to 14, 75-61.
The 22-year-old entered Thursday averaging 23.3 points and 11.1 rebounds in 18 games since returning from a two-game suspension. Cunningham's injury has ceded a larger workload for Duren, and he has stepped up by proving he can be a go-to scorer while also impacting the game defensively and as a playmaker.
Watch our podcast, "The Pistons Pulse," discuss the Cade Cunningham injury fallout, the playoff chase and more:
Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky and/or X @omarisankofa.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jalen Duren reigns again as Detroit Pistons pound New Orleans Pistons
Continue reading...
