The Detroit Pistons will have several starters listed as doubtful when they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center on Monday. Big man Jalen Duren is one of the names listed on the team’s injury report ahead of the matchup.
Duren has been a durable presence for the Pistons this season, playing in 64 games. The fourth-year center is averaging 19.3 points and 10.6 rebounds.
Pistons Center Jalen Duren’s Injury Status Against the Thunder
According to ESPN, Duren is listed as doubtful due to right knee injury management ahead of the team’s game against the Thunder. He joins veteran forward Tobias Harris (left hip injury management) and Duncan Robinson (right hip injury management), both of whom are doubtful as well.
All-Star guard Cade Cunningham (chest), Ausar Thompson (right ankle), and Isaiah Stewart (calf) will miss the clash. This leaves a depleted Pistons side to face off against the Western Conference’s top seed.
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Duren has been dealing with a knee injury but has played in the team’s last few games. He last played against the Minnesota Timberwolves and finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. Detroit secured a 109-87 win and is on a two-game winning streak.
Earlier, the center spoke about life without Cunningham for the Eastern Conference’s top seed. Per The Athletic, he outlined how the team has had to cope in the absence of its star guard.
“Just moving the ball on offense, getting it from side to side, getting downhill, (getting) sprays. … We don’t have our primary ballhandler, so we’ve got to move the ball, get guys open on back cuts, and share the rock,” he said. His comments also suggest that he will be the key focus on offense until Cunningham’s return.
“It’s more than just me. But I do try to take that role of, if I get it in the middle, I’m trying to connect to guys, set screens, get good handoffs, roll hard just to create good offense for everybody.” This season, the big man has added efficient facilitation to his repertoire, along with his rebounding and scoring.
Despite missing the contest on Monday, Duren and the Pistons will almost certainly finish the regular season as the No. 1 seed after their strong start to the season.
With a 54-20 record, the Eastern Conference outfit has eight games remaining to test its bench strength and fine-tune for the playoffs. The Pistons return home for a two-game stand after the Thunder clash, hosting the Toronto Raptors and the Timberwolves.
