DET 129, NOP 108: Duren Posts Double-Double, 61.5 Yahoo FP
Marcus Thompson Jr.
Fire Lieutenant ยท Golden State Warriors fan
Pistons Cruise Past Pelicans, Duren Goes Absolutely Berserk
Alright, let's cut straight to it. The Detroit Pistons walked into this one and absolutely handled business against New Orleans, 129-108. This wasn't a squeaker. This wasn't drama. This was a statement performance, and if you had the right guys in your lineup, you're waking up with a smile this morning.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Duren | 70.0 | 61.5 | 30/10/7 | 19.5/10.6/1.8 | +10.5 |
| Zion Williamson | 38.0 | 38.2 | 21/6/2 | 21.4/5.8/3.2 | -0.4 |
| Tobias Harris | 38.0 | 36.3 | 12/9/7 | 13.3/5.3/2.5 | -1.3 |
| Daniss Jenkins | 42.0 | 34.9 | 19/2/9 | 8.7/2.0/3.5 | +10.3 |
| Dejounte Murray | 24.0 | 30.4 | 12/7/4 | 17.2/5.3/6.5 | -5.2 |
| Ausar Thompson | 36.0 | 29.8 | 11/4/0 | 10.1/5.7/2.9 | +0.9 |
| Saddiq Bey | 32.0 | 29.7 | 17/1/3 | 17.4/5.6/2.6 | -0.4 |
| Kevin Huerter | 35.0 | 28.6 | 22/3/2 | 9.9/3.5/2.4 | +12.1 |
| Derik Queen | 19.0 | 27.2 | 11/11/2 | 11.3/6.8/3.7 | -0.3 |
| Jeremiah Fears | 24.0 | 25.4 | 13/2/6 | 13.1/3.6/3.2 | -0.1 |
Jalen Duren Just Made a Case for Your Entire Team
Listen, I've been watching basketball for four decades. I started with Run TMC, spent years defending the triangle offense to younger guys, and I know what dominance looks like. Jalen Duren just had one of those nights that makes you remember why you drafted a guy in the first place.
61.5 Yahoo points. Let that sink in. The man went 30/10/7 on 10-12 shooting, perfect from the line, and did it in just 31 minutes. That's +10.5 points above his season average on a night when the Pistons didn't even need him to go full nuclear. He was efficient, he was physical, and he was exactly what every team in the league wishes their center could be.
Here's the thing though: This wasn't some fluke performance. Duren is averaging 19.5/10.6, which already puts him in the conversation for elite big men. What he showed here is that when the matchup is right and the flow is there, he can get to 30+ without breaking a sweat. Teams with hurt centers or underperforming bigs need to wake up and think about what they're willing to offer for a guy like this. He's not going anywhere, but a trade deadline conversation might happen if Detroit feels pressure.
Kevin Huerter: The Secret Weapon Nobody Talks About
Here's where I tell you something that's going to make you feel smart if you listened. Kevin Huerter came off the bench and dropped 22 points on 9-14 shooting with four threes in just 33 minutes. That's +12.1 above his season average. That's not noise.
A guy averaging 9.9 points suddenly erupts for 22? Most of the league is looking at that and filing it away. But in fantasy, that's exactly the kind of role player who becomes a waiver grab by weekend. If Huerter gets consistent minutes and this is part of a pattern instead of a one-off, he's the kind of guy who moves from 30% owned to 60% owned in two weeks.
The Pistons looked like they had better spacing and flow tonight, and Huerter benefited from that. Keep an eye on his minute trends, because if he's seeing 30+ minutes consistently now, he's a league-winner in deeper formats.
Daniss Jenkins: Role Expansion is Real
We need to talk about Daniss Jenkins. The guy who averages 8.7 points suddenly puts up 19 with 9 assists? That's not a typo. That's a point guard getting real opportunities in the offense.
Up 10.3 on his season average, Jenkins ran the Pistons' show last night with +10.3 vs average on 19 points and 9 dimes. He didn't flood threes (5-12 FG), but he was decisive with the ball and got everyone involved. In a league where point guard depth is sketchy right now, a guy trending toward more playmaking is someone you want to know about.
The Pelicans Side: Murray and Zion Couldn't Carry It
Dejounte Murray had one of those frustrating nights. 12/7/4 on 5-15 shooting. That's -5.2 from his season average, and when your All-NBA caliber guard is struggling and forcing shots, you're not going to win. Still finished with 30.4 Yahoo points because the assists and steals are baked in, but this is the type of game where you watch tape and realize he couldn't find his rhythm.
Zion Williamson played fine. 21/6/2 is solid, right at his season average (-0.4 doesn't move the needle), but he also only saw 30 minutes. When your best talent is in foul trouble or the team is getting blown out, you don't get volume. That's a cautionary tale.
The Bottom Line
The Pistons are deeper and more versatile than people think. Duren is a hold-at-all-costs guy for anyone lucky enough to have him. Huerter and Jenkins are names to watch for waiver claims this weekend. The Pelicans have talent, but consistency is still their issue, and Murray in particular needs to find better shot selection on nights when Zion isn't taking over.
If you grabbed this game in your favor, you're eating good. If not, there's still plenty of basketball left to make moves.