Jalen Duren will not be available for the Detroit Pistons again Saturday night, leaving the team short-handed as it faces the Miami Heat in the middle of a four-game road trip.
Detroit’s injury report released Saturday afternoon ruled out Duren with a right hamstring strain. The game is set for 8 p.m. ET on NBA TV, with the Pistons carrying an 8-3 record into the matchup against the 6-6 Heat.
Duren’s absence stretches back to Detroit’s 128-111 win over Miami on Oct. 23, when he left after just 10 minutes. In that game, he posted four points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block while going 2-for-4 from the floor.
Through two appearances this season, the 22-year-old has averaged 13 points, 7.5 rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block while shooting 58.8% from the field and 85.7% from the free-throw line in 19 minutes per game.
Even without him, Detroit has kept rolling. The Pistons are riding a two-game winning streak after back-to-back wins over the Washington Wizards, including Thursday’s 144-140 double-overtime escape.
Cade Cunningham carried that one with a huge all-around night: 52 points, 11 assists, five rebounds, one steal and one block, all without a turnover. He shot 16-for-25 from the field, 3-for-5 from 3-point range and 17-for-18 at the line in 48 minutes.
Detroit’s latest injury report also lists Isaiah Joe as out with a right hip contusion. Elijah Harkless and Isaac Jones are questionable because of their two-way G League assignments, while Chaz Lanier, Ebuka Okorie and Ugonna Onyenso are out on G League assignments.
The Pistons have already beaten Miami once this season, though Duren did not finish that game because of the injury. For now, Detroit has not offered a return timetable, so his status for the rest of the trip remains up in the air.
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