Pistons Struggle to Protect the Paint After Duren’s Hamstring Injury
Detroit must cover center minutes with smaller lineups as it heads to San Antonio on Tuesday for a major frontcourt test.
Overview
- The Pistons dropped a 137-117 game to the Miami Heat on Saturday, Nov. 14, when Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 34 points and controlled the paint in the second quarter onward.
- Jalen Duren has not played since exiting the Oct. 23 game in Miami with a right hamstring strain and was officially ruled out of the Heat game with no definitive return date provided.
- Detroit has shifted John Collins and Paul Reed into starting center minutes and those changes have produced mixed results with Collins struggling to handle physical, bigger opponents.
- Depth is thin because multiple two-way players are on G League assignments and guard Isaiah Joe is out with a right hip contusion, leaving limited options to replace Duren’s rim protection and rebounding.
- The Spurs game on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. ET will be an immediate measuring stick for Detroit’s interim frontcourt and could force longer-term lineup adjustments if interior issues persist.