For the second straight game, the Detroit Pistons were largely without the services of their starting center after Jalen Duren was ejected after playing just 12 minutes against the Rockets on a night when they desperately needed him. The Pistons were able to grind out a win anyway with Isaiah Stewart, Tobias Harris and Paul Reed picking up Duren’s slack. It’s only two games, so you don’t want to overreact, but Duren is not off to a flying start in his quest to get paid like a star center.
Jalen Duren has to prove he can stay on the floor
Duren got into foul trouble early against the Bulls and then picked up two techincals in short order against the Rockets when he shoved Ausar Thompson and then nearly took his head off with a swim-through elbow.