Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren exited Thursday night’s loss to the Miami Heat with a right ankle sprain, adding a new layer of concern to Detroit’s first game of 2026 and a recent stretch of uneven play.
Duren suffered the injury late in the first half at Little Caesars Arena while driving to the basket on a non-contact play. He rolled his right ankle before making contact with any Heat defender but still finished the basket.
Duren remained on the floor for three additional offensive possessions, including converting an alley-oop from Jaden Ivey , before checking out in the final minute of the half and heading directly to the locker room.
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He returned to start the second half, but the attempt to play through the injury was short-lived. Duren checked out after just over three minutes in the third quarter and was later ruled out for the remainder of the game as Detroit fell 118-112.
“He wanted to give it a go and see how he felt, but just didn’t feel that he could do the things that he needed to do,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said postgame. “I don’t have any information yet. I’ll get more information in the next couple days.”
The injury marks the second right ankle sprain Duren has dealt with this season. A previous issue caused him to miss two games in November, raising early questions about durability as Detroit navigates the heart of its schedule.
A Critical Loss at a Delicate Moment
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Duren’s exit came at a difficult time for the Pistons, who have now dropped three of their last four games despite still holding the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Detroit sits at 25-9, but the margin is thinning. The New York Knicks are just 1.5 games back, with the Boston Celtics also within striking distance as Jaylen Brown continues to play at an MVP-caliber level.
Detroit’s depth is already being tested. Tobias Harris remains sidelined with a left hip sprain, while Caris LeVert is out with left knee inflammation. Losing Duren for any extended stretch would significantly strain the Pistons’ frontcourt rotation on both ends of the floor.
Duren’s Leap Makes Absence Costly
After a strong 2024-25 season, Duren has taken another step forward this year. Through 31 games, the 22-year-old is averaging a career-high 17.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 63.3% from the field. His 127 offensive rebounds rank third in the NBA, trailing only Rudy Gobert and Donovan Clingan, underscoring his importance to Detroit’s interior presence.
Duren’s improvement as a rim protector is also a huge part of why they are top-5 in defensive rating (2nd), points allowed (5th), opponent points in the paint (3rd) and blocks per game (1st).
Duren had 12 points and five rebounds in just 18 minutes before exiting Thursday’s game. Early indications suggest the injury could sideline him for one to two weeks, depending on the severity of the sprain, though no official timetable has been announced.
For now, the Pistons await further evaluation, hoping the setback proves minor. With critical matchups looming in the coming weeks, Duren’s availability could play a decisive role in whether Detroit maintains its grip on the East or invites challengers back into the race.
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