The Pistons have been living without Jalen Duren, and the usual rebounding edge has gone missing with him. Detroit was one of the league’s best glass-cleaning teams a year ago, ranking 5th in total rebounds per game and 3rd in offensive rebounds per game. This season, with Duren sidelined for most of the year, the numbers have slipped all the way to 23rd in total rebounds and 19th in offensive rebounds.
That hasn’t stopped Detroit from stacking wins.
Even in last night’s double overtime victory over the Wizards, the Pistons lost the rebounding battle again. But they found another way to control the game: they took care of the ball. Detroit finished with just 11 turnovers against 28 assists, and that has become a real trend over the last stretch.
Over their last six games, the Pistons have averaged only 12.5 turnovers per game. They’re now 8th in the NBA in fewest turnovers per game after finishing near the bottom of the league in that category last season.
Cade Cunningham was the headline act last night, and for good reason. He became the first player to log over 50 points and 10 assists without turning the ball over.
JB Bickerstaff has leaned into smaller lineups and kept more ball handling on the floor, and that approach has clearly changed the way Detroit is playing. There’s been more passing, more movement, and less of Cunningham having to carry everything on his own.
Ausar Thompson has also been a major reason the Pistons have stayed afloat on the glass. He leads the team in rebounding this season at just under nine per game, and he added 11 more last night for his first triple double. He’s now had double-digit rebounds in three of his last four games, giving Detroit a badly needed lift while Duren is out.
The Pistons may be giving up boards, but they’re making up for it by protecting possessions. In a league where every extra shot matters, Detroit is squeezing value out of each trip by limiting mistakes and making the most of the ball they do keep.
In Other News...
Pistons May Have Found The Backcourt Spark They Were Missing
The Pistons have spent plenty of time searching for another backcourt piece to ease the load on Cade Cunningham, and Daniss Jenkins is making a strong case that he belongs in that conversation. Since stepping into Jaden Iveys spot, Jenkins has shown a more polished offensive game, with his shooting and playmaking both trending in the right direction as Detroit looks for more stability around its lead guard.
What makes the stretch so interesting is how quickly Jenkins has started to matter in real games, not just in theory. He has put together a run of 20-plus-point performances and given the Pistons a different kind of perimeter threat at a time when Jalen Durens injury has already forced the offense to adjust. If Jenkins keeps this up, Detroit may have found a much-needed spark in a place it has been trying to upgrade for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Daniss Jenkins Is Giving The Pistons A New Contract Dilemma
Daniss Jenkins has quietly turned into one of the more interesting pieces on the Pistons roster, and not just because he is starting. At a time when Detroit is trying to sort out its long-term core, Jenkins has given the team useful production across the board, averaging 13.5 points, 4.7 assists and 3.8 rebounds while hitting 44 percent from three-point range.
The contract part is where things get tricky. Jenkins is only the 11th highest paid player on the roster at $4 million this season, a figure that even trails rookie Ebuka Okorie, which makes him look like one of the leagues better bargains. With restricted free agency looming after the season, the Pistons may soon have to decide how much value they place on keeping a player who has outperformed his salary and earned a bigger role. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Just Unlocked A Version Of This Team Fans Have Wanted
Cade Cunninghams 52-point outburst in a double-overtime win over the Washington Wizards was the headline, but it was also the kind of night that hinted at a bigger shift for Detroit. The Pistons have spent much of the season looking for a cleaner, more dynamic way to organize their offense, and Cunninghams career-high scoring night came with 11 assists and no turnovers, a reminder of how dangerous the attack can be when he is controlling everything.
Ausar Thompson added another layer to that picture with his first career triple-double, finishing with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists while taking on a larger playmaking load under J.B. Bickerstaff. That role has helped unlock more movement and versatility for Detroit, and it is starting to look like the kind of version of this team fans have been waiting to see. The bigger question now is how far Bickerstaff can keep pushing that formula once the games get tighter and the scouting reports get thicker. [Read more 🡒]