The Detroit Pistons just keep finding ways to win - and Monday night’s gritty 104-103 victory over the Boston Celtics was another statement from a team that’s quickly becoming one of the most compelling stories in the Eastern Conference.
This one came down to the wire. With the game hanging in the balance, Jaylen Brown had a clean look in the final seconds, but his jumper clanged off the rim, sealing a narrow win for Detroit.
It wasn’t flawless basketball - the Pistons had their lapses - but it was enough. And in a matchup between the top two teams in the East, sometimes enough is all you need.
A big reason Detroit pulled this one out? Jalen Duren.
The second-year big man continues to make waves in what's shaping up to be a breakout campaign. He dropped 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the win, once again showing why he’s becoming a cornerstone for this Pistons squad. His performance didn’t go unnoticed - former All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins, speaking on FanDuel’s Run It Back, praised Duren’s growth and potential: “This kid has a lot of potential… He’s not a finished product, but his future is really bright.”
Cousins isn’t wrong. Duren has taken a noticeable leap this season, and with All-Star reserves set to be announced soon, there’s growing buzz that he could be in the mix.
He’s been that good. And on a night when Cade Cunningham - already named a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Stars - didn’t have to carry the load alone, Duren’s presence in the paint made all the difference.
What’s especially intriguing about Duren’s rise is how it aligns with a broader shift across the league. After years of small-ball dominance, the NBA is once again embracing big men who can anchor a defense and finish around the rim - and Duren fits that mold perfectly. He’s a physical force inside, a key cog in a Pistons defense that currently ranks second in the league, and he’s showing signs of expanding his offensive game.
He’s already got a soft touch around the basket, and if he can eventually stretch the floor with a reliable jumper, we’re talking about a player who could soon be in the conversation with the league’s elite centers. That’s not hyperbole - that’s the trajectory he’s on.
Detroit, as a team, has already exceeded expectations this season. They’ve gone from a rebuilding project to a legitimate threat in the East, and much of that comes down to the internal development of their young core. With Cunningham leading the charge and Duren emerging as a two-way force, the Pistons are building something real - and they’re doing it faster than anyone expected.
Next up, they’ll hit the road to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. Another test, another opportunity to show the league that this isn’t a fluke. Detroit is for real - and Jalen Duren is a big reason why.