DETROIT — Once the buzzer sounded to end regulation Friday, Jalen Duren flexed and let out a scream loud enough to hear over the applause of the Little Caesars Arena Crowd. It was nearly as loud as the horn that sounded for 13 minutes straight and disrupted the third quarter, but not quite.
Duren’s passion was bred from the Detroit Pistons overcoming a nine-point deficit with two minutes and 44 seconds remaining, all while his fellow All-Star Cade Cunningham had fouled out, to force overtime against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Daniss Jenkins sunk three clutch free throws after an intentional foul to send the game to OT.
Duren scored 15 of his game-high 33 points during the fourth quarter and overtime to lead the Pistons to a 122-119 win. He tacked on 16 rebounds, three blocks and three assists.
Jalen Duren was OUTSTANDING in Detroit’s OT win!
33 PTS (ties career-high)
16 REB
3 BLK pic.twitter.com/vUt3Sy6ypU— NBA (@NBA) February 28, 2026
The 22-year-old center joined the late Hall of Famer, Bob Lanier, as the only players in franchise history to notch those numbers in a single game. Not only did Duren tie his career high in points, he’s currently in the midst of the highest-scoring four-game stretch of his career and changes the complexion of what Detroit can become when playing this way. Especially when the 3-point shooting struggles continue.
Duren puts far more pressure on opposing defenses and forces them to adjust their game plans accordingly. The Pistons are now 17-2 when Duren scores at least 20 points this season. He’s averaging 28.3 points on 65.2 percent and 14.5 rebounds during his last four games since returning from his two-game suspension for his role in the altercation against the Charlotte Hornets.
Cunningham and Duren’s bond dates back to high school. And though Cunningham was sidelined during the final minutes of regulation and overtime, he was beaming with pride when discussing Duren postgame.
“It’s special, man,” Cunningham told The Athletic with a smile. “It’s everything we talked about, everything we knew he was capable of. He’s put a lot of work in to be where he’s at.”
As gaudy as his numbers are over the last four games, it’s more about the way he’s putting them up. Duren routinely punished 2025 Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley off the dribble and took advantage of him on the offensive glass, as evidenced by his game-high seven offensive rebounds. Jarrett Allen and Thomas Bryant took turns trying to defend Duren as well. Neither had an answer for him.
Big fella working on both ends pic.twitter.com/LqhtamL0uy
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) February 28, 2026
Duren has diversified the way he attacks defenders. Entering Friday, 69 percent of his shot attempts were coming at the rim, per Cleaning The Glass. While that ranks in the 77th percentile of big men, it’s on pace to be a career low. That’s because 31 percent of his attempts are coming from the midrange, which thus far is a career best.
“He has an advantage against most bigs he sees, it just depends on what it is,” said Cunningham, who finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. “The big, strong guys, he’s quicker than. The long, lanky guys, he’s just stronger than. It’s on the guards to make sure he’s getting the ball where he needs (it) in his spots, to where he can implement those things.
“But he does a great job of getting the ball himself, whether it’s crashing the glass or just flashing and showing his hands to make sure he gets it. He’s been growing every year.”
Yes, the Cavaliers were without their two best players in James Harden (right thumb fracture) and Donovan Mitchell (right groin strain). But their absence didn’t negate the fact that Duren is blossoming into one of the best big men in the association during his fourth season. He’s been good for 18.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game this season with a 22.4 percent usage rating.
His points and usage rating are both on pace to be career highs, and he’s reached this level by way of being challenged.
Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff wanted Duren to expand his game during the offseason after the Pistons had been eliminated from their first-round series against the New York Knicks. His growth has been on full display all season. After the win, Bickerstaff spoke about how far along Duren is in the process of his evolution.
“It’s that moment where you figure it out and all the things just come together,” Bickerstaff said with a hoarse tone. “I think (things) are coming together for him. The game’s slowed down for him. His understanding of spacing and when to attack, all those things have slowed down and given him opportunities.”
When asked about his big night and how it felt to be in the midst of this stretch, Duren was much more focused on the big picture.
“As long as we’re winning, I’m good,” Duren said, “25 and 10 with a bunch of losses is not going to feel the same. The numbers really don’t matter to me, I’m more about the wins.
“As long as we’re winning, I couldn’t care less.”
Ausar Thompson — who added 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block — joked that Duren was just showing off at this point.
“He’s just trying to show off.”
Ausar Thompson on Jalen Duren’s dominance 😂 https://t.co/fpgxS8AZ8d pic.twitter.com/wKsLszDCL9
— NBA (@NBA) February 28, 2026
Detroit (44-14), which has already matched last season’s win total, is aiming to gear up for a long postseason run. If this four-game sample size can become the norm for Duren during the remainder of the regular season and carry into the playoffs, the Pistons can become even more dangerous than they already are.
“He’s unstoppable,” Bickerstaff said of Duren after Detroit’s win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. “Teams have to make very difficult decisions, coverages have to change. The amount of bodies they put on him has to change, and it opens (the floor) up for everybody else.”