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NBA: Jalen Duren, East-best Pistons stroll past slumping Warriors

Jalen Duren led the Detroit Pistons with 23 points as they dominated the Golden State Warriors 115-101, overcoming injuries and a depleted lineup. Detroit extended their strong run, winning six of their last seven games while Golden State struggled without key players.

Field Level Media

Reuters

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March 21, 2026

NBA: Jalen Duren, East-best Pistons stroll past slumping Warriors

Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) gets pressured by Golden State Warriors guard De'anthony Melton (8) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan, USA, March 20, 2026.

Lon Horwedel/Imagn Images

Jalen Duren scored 23 points and grabbed six rebounds as the host Detroit Pistons rolled past the Golden State Warriors 115-101 on Friday night.


Detroit, which had five other players in double figures, was playing its second game since All-Star guard Cade Cunningham was diagnosed with a collapsed lung.


Daniss Jenkins supplied 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds while starting in place of Cunningham. Paul Reed had 15 points, Tobias Harris tossed in 13 and Duncan Robinson and Ronald Holland II added 11 apiece.


Ausar Thompson spearheaded the Detroit defense with seven steals.


Injuries sidelined numerous players in the matchup. Marcus Sasser (hip) and Isaiah Stewart (calf) also sat out for Detroit. Stephen Curry (knee), Seth Curry (groin), Al Horford (calf), Moses Moody (wrist) and Quinten Post (foot) didn't suit up for the Warriors.


Detroit (51-19) was playing the opener of a four-game homestand. The Eastern Conference leaders have won six of their past seven games.


Brandin Podziemski's 15 points led the Warriors (33-37), who took their seventh loss in eight games. Gary Payton II and De'Anthony Melton had 14 points apiece, while Gui Santos put up 13, Will Richard added 11 and LJ Cryer tallied 10.


Golden State emerged from the first quarter with a 26-21 advantage. The Pistons outscored the Warriors 36-24 in the second quarter to grab a 57-50 lead.


Robinson scored 10 of his 11 first-half points during the second period. Detroit shot 52.3% before the break while forcing 13 turnovers.


With the score 62-56, the Pistons went on an 18-5 run to extend their lead to 19 points. Detroit scored the first seven points during the surge, including a pair of Thompson layups.


Another Thompson layup off a Duren feed made it 73-59. A Jenkins putback pushed the lead to 18. Reed capped the outburst with a layup off a Jenkins pass for an 80-61 lead.


A 3-pointer from Santos in the closing seconds of the quarter pulled Golden State within 87-73. The Pistons then opened the fourth quarter with a 10-0 spurt. Duren scored seven of those points and Caris LeVert finished it off with a layup to make it 97-73.

-Field Level Media/Reuters

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