DeMarcus Cousins gives Jalen Duren his flowers after the win against the Celtics
On Monday night, Detroit Pistons extended their lead in the Eastern Conference with a close home score of 104-103 over the Boston Celticswho are number two in the conference. It wasn’t a perfect performance for the Pistons, but Detroit was able to escape with a win after Jaylen Brown’s jumper bounced off the rim in the final seconds.
It was a strong game for the Pistons big man Jalen Durenwho scored 18 points with nine rebounds in the win, and recently a former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins went to FanDuel’s “Run It Back” show to give Duren flowers in the midst of his breakout season.
“This kid has a lot of potential … He’s not a finished product, but his future is really bright,” Cousins said, via Run It Back on X, formerly Twitter.
Indeed, Duren has made a huge leap this season, and many expect him to be named to his first All-Star team when the rosters are announced in the coming weeks. Duren’s teammate, Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham, was named the Eastern Conference All-Star starter earlier in the day on Monday.
After a few years where small ball was crazy, the NBA has in many ways returned to valuing big centers who can protect the paint and finish around the rim, and Duren certainly helps fit that bill, becoming one of the leaders of Detroit’s number two defense.
He’s also developed a soft touch around the basket, and if he’s ever able to add a consistent outside jumper to his game, he could enter the conversation as one of the best centers in the NBA.
Overall, the Pistons have already blown away expectations this year, and as Duren continues to improve, the sky could be the limit for this Detroit team going forward.
The Pistons next take the court on Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans on the road.
2026-01-20 20:25:00
