Key Takeaways:
- Jalen Duren posted 22 points and 14 rebounds in Detroit’s 113-108 victory over Minnesota
- Both teams were missing their star players, with Anthony Edwards and Cade Cunningham sidelined
- The Pistons delivered an 11-0 run midway through the fourth quarter, improving their record to 7-2 without Cunningham since 17 March
Match Overview
Jalen Duren’s dominant performance led the Detroit Pistons to a 113-108 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night in a contest lacking both teams’ marquee talents. Daniss Jenkins also delivered, scoring 26 points for Detroit as they notched their seventh win in nine outings since Cade Cunningham was sidelined on 17 March.
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota’s All-Star guard, was ruled out due to a right knee injury and illness less than two hours before tipoff. Earlier on Thursday, Detroit confirmed Cade Cunningham would be absent for at least another week while recovering from a collapsed left lung. With both players now unable to reach the NBA’s 65-game minimum, they will not be eligible for postseason awards this year.
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— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 3, 2026
Momentum Shift in the Fourth Quarter
The game’s decisive stretch came mid-way through the fourth period as the Pistons surged ahead with an 11-0 run to seize control. Detroit now holds a 7-2 record in Cunningham’s absence since 17 March, underlining the squad’s resilience in the face of adversity.
Individual Player Highlights
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Duren | Detroit Pistons | 22 | 14 | 4 |
| Daniss Jenkins | Detroit Pistons | 26 | 5 | 8 |
| Ausar Thompson | Detroit Pistons | 7 | 9 | 9 |
| Duncan Robinson | Detroit Pistons | 15 | 4 | 3 |
| Julius Randle | Minnesota Timberwolves | 27 | 6 | 6 |
| Ayo Dosunmu | Minnesota Timberwolves | 19 | 5 | 4 |
| Naz Reid | Minnesota Timberwolves | 19 | 6 | 3 |
| Mike Conley | Minnesota Timberwolves | 14 | 2 | 2 |
Team Status and Playoff Implications
Ausar Thompson, recently named Eastern Conference defensive player of the month, contributed a career-best nine assists, grabbed nine rebounds, and tallied seven points. Duncan Robinson added 15 points, while Kevin Huerter, who joined the Pistons in a recent trade from Chicago for Jaden Ivey, produced 12 points off the bench.
Detroit, crowned Central Division champions, are battling to maintain their advantage over Boston for the top seed in the Eastern Conference, aiming for a breakthrough to the next playoff round, something they have not accomplished since 2008.
However, the Pistons were also without Isaiah Stewart due to a calf issue and will be monitoring Tobias Harris after his bruised left knee saw him limited to just six minutes in the game against Minnesota.
On-Court Tensions and Next Fixtures
Late in the third quarter, with Detroit ahead by two, a confrontation unfolded as Minnesota’s Bones Hyland received a technical foul for elbowing Marcus Sasser. Sasser responded with a shove and was subsequently assessed a technical as well.
Minnesota will travel to Philadelphia on Friday, while Detroit are set to take on Philadelphia on Saturday.
