Jalen Duren: Totals 14 points in blowout win
Jalen Duren
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Jalen Duren: Totals 14 points in blowout winDuren closed Friday's 142-115 victory over the Hawks with 14 points (6-10 FG, 2-4 FT), seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal in 24 minutes.
Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren, Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson and Ausar Thompson will start Friday against the Hawks.Harris will make his return to the starting lineup after being out for a week with an ankle injury. His return gives the Pistons their opening-night starting unit, which will move Isaiah Stewart back to a reserve role to bolster Detroit's bench. The Pistons have won four of their past five games and currently sit atop the Eastern Conference standings with a 19-5 record.
Jalen Duren finished Saturday's win over the Bucks with 16 points (6-of-8 FGs, 4-of-5 FTs), 16 rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot.After a streak of four straight double-doubles, Duren entered Saturday having totaled 14 rebounds in his last two outings. Rebounding wasn't a problem against the Bucks, especially with Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo unavailable due to injury. Duren has recorded at least 16 rebounds in five games this season, with Saturday's effort being the first since November 26. The Pistons play once during Week 8 but will have four games in fantasy leagues that combine Weeks 8 and 9 due to the NBA Cup knockout rounds.
Duncan Robinson (ankle) is available to play against the Trail Blazers on Friday and will start alongside Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren.Robinson will be back after a two-game absence, which will push Daniss Jenkins back to the bench. Jenkins had been effective as a starter in the past, but this was a rough two-game stretch for him. He'll lose the streaming upside he held as a reserve.
Donovan Clingan (leg) has been ruled out against the Pistons on Friday.The last time Clingan was unavailable, Kris Murray got the start in his place. That may not be an optimal strategy against Jalen Duren and Detroit, but it could happen. The other option would likely be Duop Reath, though Robert Williams will play an important role off the bench regardless.