Pistons Dominate Wizards Again, Duren Exits Early

Detroit reaches 50-win mark for first time since 2007-08 season

Mar. 20, 2026 at 7:25am

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The Detroit Pistons defeated the Washington Wizards 117-95, led by Jalen Duren's 24 points and 11 rebounds. Duren exited the game early in the third quarter for an undisclosed reason. The Pistons also played without star Cade Cunningham, who was diagnosed with a collapsed lung and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Detroit controlled the game, holding a 66-26 advantage in points in the paint and a 56-35 edge in rebounds.

Why it matters

The Pistons' dominant performance over the struggling Wizards, who have now lost 14 straight games, highlights Detroit's strong season as they reach the 50-win mark for the first time in nearly 15 years. However, the early exit of Duren, one of their key players, raises concerns about his health and availability going forward.

The details

Jalen Duren followed up his career-high 36-point game on Tuesday with another strong effort, making 9 of 15 shots for 24 points and 11 rebounds. Paul Reed added 17 points off the bench for the Pistons. Detroit also got significant contributions from Duncan Robinson (14 points, 4 3-pointers) and Caris LeVert (14 points, 3 3-pointers). For the Wizards, Tristan Vukcevic scored 21 points off the bench and rookie Will Riley added 15 points.

  • The Pistons announced earlier on Thursday that star Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
  • Duren exited the game with 2:54 remaining in the third quarter for an undisclosed reason.

The players

Jalen Duren

A key player for the Detroit Pistons who had a strong performance with 24 points and 11 rebounds before exiting the game early.

Cade Cunningham

The Pistons' star player who has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Paul Reed

A Pistons player who came off the bench to score 17 points.

Duncan Robinson

A Pistons player who had 14 points, including 4 3-pointers.

Caris LeVert

A Pistons player who scored 14 points and made 3 3-pointers.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

The takeaway

The Pistons' dominant performance over the struggling Wizards, combined with the early exit of key player Jalen Duren, highlights Detroit's strong season but also raises concerns about their depth and health heading into the final stretch of the season.