The Pistons didn’t spend the summer making noise. They didn’t chase the kind of splashy move plenty of teams would have tried after finishing as the No. 1 seed in the East. Instead, Detroit leaned into the quieter bet: keep the group together, trust the growth already inside the building, and see where that takes them.
Three games in, that approach looks a lot smarter.
Even with Ausar Thompson sidelined and Jalen Duren out, with Duren expected to miss more time, the Pistons walked into a matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers and came away with the win on Sunday. Detroit also did it against a Sixers group that had LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey on its side. The biggest reason the Pistons survived that challenge was Daniss Jenkins, who stepped into a much larger role and delivered like he belonged there.
Jenkins had the kind of night that makes a front office feel good about patience. He finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, going 6-of-11 from the field, 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and 3-of-4 at the line.
He also played more minutes than anyone else on the Pistons, logging 38:23. John Collins was next at 33:39.
That performance fit the broader picture in Detroit. The Pistons lost Tobias Harris this summer, who went to the San Antonio Spurs, and replaced him with Collins.
They had the ability to go bigger in a trade, but mostly stayed in place. Duren’s return came with some summer tension before he eventually re-signed, and the roster is almost the same group that finished last season, minus Isaiah Stewart.
So far, that choice has paid off in a big way. Detroit is 3-0, and those three wins have come against what could end up being the East’s best teams: the Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks, and the 76ers.
The formula has been clear. The Pistons are defending at a high level, and their role players are giving them real production.
Jenkins was the latest example, but he’s not the only one capable of doing more. Duncan Robinson and Javonte Green also look ready to take on bigger jobs, and that doesn’t even get into the continued growth of Cade Cunningham, Thompson, and Duren.
In Other News...
Pistons Enter Key 76ers Test With One Big Availability Concern
The Pistons head into Sunday nights meeting with Philadelphia carrying a familiar early-season balancing act: another chance to measure themselves against a team missing Joel Embiid, but also a reminder that Detroits own frontcourt remains a work in progress. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m., with the game airing locally on TV20 Detroit and streaming on Fubo and DAZN, giving the Pistons a clear spotlight as they try to build momentum in a game that still matters even without one of the leagues biggest names on the other side.
Detroits injury report is the bigger concern here, with Jalen Duren ruled out and Ausar Thompson questionable as the Pistons try to sort out their rotation. LeBron James is expected to return after sitting out the previous game, which at least gives Detroit another piece it can count on, but the available lineup still leaves the team with some important decisions to make before it faces a Sixers group trying to navigate its own absence. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Face A Tough Stretch Without Jalen Duren
The Pistons are bracing for a short-handed stretch in the middle of the season after Jalen Duren went down with a right hamstring strain in the game against the Miami Heat. Detroit expects the young center to miss at least two weeks before the team takes another look at his condition, a setback that comes at a spot where his size and energy have become important to the rotation.
John Collins and Paul Reed are in line to handle the center minutes while Duren is out, giving the Pistons a different look in the frontcourt for now. How well that tandem holds up could shape how smoothly Detroit gets through the next stretch, especially with Duren's timeline still needing another evaluation before a clearer return date comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Suddenly Face An Early Test After Jalen Duren Setback
The Pistons fast start has already run into an early reality check. After opening the season with two wins, Detroit now has to manage at least the next two weeks without Jalen Duren, who is expected to sit with a right hamstring strain he suffered against the Miami Heat.
Duren had just locked in his place as a franchise cornerstone with a five-year, $200 million extension after a breakout regular season, so his absence lands as more than a routine injury note. Paul Reed has already taken on a larger role in Durens absence, and coach JB Bickerstaff is now sorting through lineup options while the Pistons try to keep their momentum intact. [Read more 🡒]