Tonight, the unbeaten Detroit Pistons roll into New York to face the defending champion Knicks, who are, bafflingly, still searching for their first win. But get this, the Pistons are seriously shorthanded, missing their All-Star center Jalen Duren, which has gotta feel like a massive break for the struggling champs.
Jalen Duren’s Absence Could Sink Detroit’s Perfect Start
The Pistons are the only team in the Eastern Conference still without a loss, but their perfect run is on shaky ground. All-Star center Jalen Duren, who just inked a massive $200 million contract extension before the season kicked off, is out for at least two weeks with a right hamstring strain he picked up in Friday’s win against Miami. That’s a huge blow! Duren was a beast in the season opener against Boston, dropping 22 points on 8-for-13 shooting and grabbing nine boards. He was limited to just 10 minutes against the Heat when the injury happened. Yeah, Detroit managed a 106-93 wire-to-wire win over Philadelphia on Sunday without him, but let’s be real, they caught a break. The Sixers were on the second night of a back-to-back and sat Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe. You think the Knicks are gonna do them any favors tonight? Paul Reed will see a lot more time with Duren sidelined, and while he put up eight points, eight rebounds, and three blocks in 26 minutes Sunday, Detroit dominated the boards 54-37. That kind of dominance on the glass? Not happening often without Duren in there.
And if Duren’s absence wasn’t enough, Detroit might be without two more guys tonight. Starting guard Ausar Thompson, who was an All-NBA First-Team All-Defensive pick last year and led the league in steals, sat out Sunday with an ankle injury. Plus, Isaiah Joe, acquired in the offseason from Oklahoma City, left the game late in the first quarter against the Sixers due to a hip contusion and didn’t return. The Pistons are limping into Madison Square Garden.
Knicks Desperate For a Win As Panic Sets In
Talk about panic time in Gotham. The defending champion New York Knicks are still winless, and it has taken them just five days this season to lose as many games as they did during their historic playoff run last spring. That’s wild. Tonight’s nationally televised game is the first of four regular-season meetings between these Eastern Conference contenders, and New York has got to be salivating at the chance to finally get on the board against a severely hobbled Pistons squad. The betting lines even suggest a New York money line, paired with Cade Cunningham to hit 20 or more points. This is their moment, right? They’re playing at home, they’re desperate, and their opponent is missing key players, including a $200 million All-Star. If the Knicks can’t get it done tonight, you have to wonder just how deep that panic is going to set in.
Tonight is a massive game for both teams. Can the Pistons keep their improbable undefeated streak alive despite being incredibly shorthanded, or will the defending champs finally get their first W and kickstart their season? We’ll find out what happens when the buzzer sounds!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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