After being sidelined for two games due to a right ankle sprain, Pistons center Jalen Duren made an emphatic return on Monday, overpowering the Pacers in one of his strongest outings of the season.
The 22-year-old big man was nearly perfect from the field, piling up 31 points on an extraordinary 12-of-13 shooting while also contributing 15 rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes.
His combination of physical dominance and efficiency set the tone for Detroit throughout the night.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff had nothing but praise for his young center’s performance, describing Duren’s continued growth and physical presence in the paint.
“He’s just continued to dominate and that’s the only way you can say it,” Bickerstaff said, via Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press.
The coach emphasized the relentlessness Duren has shown in contested areas and the versatility he is beginning to showcase.
“The way he’s rebounding the ball through contact and in traffic, getting to the free throw line … he’s just playing a well-rounded game.”
With the victory, the Pistons extended their winning streak to 10 straight games. According to the NBA, it is the first time Detroit has reached that mark since 2008, giving the franchise a milestone that reflects its strong early-season momentum.
Speaking after the game, Duren highlighted the collective effort and the culture the team is building, acknowledging that long-term success requires consistency and unity.
“It’s the work we put in, I think it’s the summer work that we’ve put in. Obviously camaraderie and I think culture, honesty everything plays a part in it. It’s still early in the season, we have a long, long way to go,” Duren said, via Sankofa.
Pistons Notes: Duren, Jenkins, Cade, Thompson, Klintman https://t.co/fAXwTl8Yzr pic.twitter.com/4zIYHJy6d8
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) November 18, 2025
