Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren was a force to be reckoned with against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night
As the Detroit Pistons’ home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers slipped into overtime last night, fourth-year center Jalen Duren turned on the afterburners with another utterly dominant performance to secure a 122-119 victory in a matchup that was nothing if not dramatic.
With 33 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal, Duren continued his league-wide assault on the rim after the All-Star Break. In his four games since returning from suspension, JD is averaging 28.25 points and 14.5 rebounds each night, which positions the All-Star center squarely among the game’s elite big men over the past two weeks.
"I think it's that moment where you figure it out," Bickerstaff said of Duren after the game. "And all the things just come together, and they're coming together for him. The game's slowed down for him. His understanding of the spacing and when to attack, like all of those things have slowed down and given him opportunities."
Duren became the first Pistons big man to score 25-plus points while securing at least 10 rebounds in four consecutive games since Bob McAdoo in 1980. In terms of figuring it all out as Bickerstaff alluded to, Duren responded with automatic shock when he found out the lofty company that he now shares in the Detroit record books.
As part of Detroit’s cleanup crew with seven offensive rebounds, Duren dug deep and fought for every extra possession– and the Pistons needed each one to survive a game where Cade Cunningham fouled out with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
At that time, the Pistons still had ground to make up, and Duren delivered with a series of meaningful finishes around the rim, including several key boards, to help Detroit force the Cavs into overtime. From a tactical standpoint, Duren has taken it upon himself to use his speed and strength to put opposing big men in compromising positions, and that’s a point of emphasis that he exploited against Cleveland.
“Especially because I feel like a lot of bigs, most bigs can’t guard me off the bounce,” Duren said. “So, I do my best to get to the rim, get to the free throw line and make them move their feet.”
Along those lines, Duren forced Cavs’ center Jarrett Allen to foul out not long after Cunningham earned an early exit as well, so JD succeeded in luring the Cleveland big into foul trouble. From the charity stripe, Duren knocked down 11-of-15 free throws in a tight contest where each trip to the foul line counted.
Having the composure to hit free throws with the game hanging in the balance requires a certain degree of composure, but Duren tapped into his physical profile to fight through contact and earn each trip to the free throw line.
“If you take a bump from him, it’s not like no normal bump,” Pistons forward Ausar Thompson said after the game. “It’s like getting hit by a train. So him coming down with a full head of speed, them playing back, it’s to his advantage.”
In just one word to describe his All-Star teammate, Thompson said Duren embodied “domination” in the truest sense of the word. But if you ask Duren what the secret is to the success he’s had lately, JD will play it cool while expressing the importance of playing team-oriented basketball, even if that means he’s asked to contribute more in the scoring column on a nightly basis.
“Just grinding, working on my game every day,” Duren said. “Just trying to win games, do whatever I can for my teammates to win games and that’s the outcome. So, if that’s what they need me to do, I’ll keep doing it.”
Duren will have an opportunity to continue his hot streak against the Orlando Magic on the road on Sunday, March 1 at 6 pm.
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