Duren Leads Pistons Past Timberwolves in Superstar-Less Matchup

Detroit wins 113-108 as both teams were missing their top players.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:34am

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A fractured, geometric painting in bold, clashing colors representing the dynamic action of a basketball game, with no recognizable players or team logos.A fragmented, cubist-inspired illustration captures the energy and intensity of a high-stakes NBA matchup between the Pistons and Timberwolves, despite the absence of their star players.Today in Detroit

Jalen Duren had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and Daniss Jenkins scored 26 points to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 113-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night. Both teams were missing their superstar players, with the Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards out due to a right knee injury and illness, and the Pistons' Cade Cunningham sidelined for at least another week to recover from a collapsed left lung.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Pistons in the hunt for top seeding in the Eastern Conference playoffs, as they try to advance past the first round for the first time since 2008. The game also highlighted the impact of star players' absences, as both teams struggled without their leading scorers.

The details

The Pistons went on an 11-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to take control of the game. Minnesota's Julius Randle finished with 27 points, while Ayo Dosunmu and Naz Reid scored 19 points each. The Pistons' Ausar Thompson had a career-high nine assists to go along with nine rebounds and seven points.

  • The Pistons announced earlier in the day that Cade Cunningham would be out at least another week to recover from a collapsed left lung.
  • Minnesota ruled out All-Star guard Anthony Edwards about 90 minutes before tipoff due to a right knee injury and an illness.

The players

Jalen Duren

A Pistons player who had 22 points and 14 rebounds in the game.

Daniss Jenkins

A Pistons player who scored 26 points in the game.

Anthony Edwards

An All-Star guard for the Timberwolves who was ruled out due to a right knee injury and illness.

Cade Cunningham

A Pistons player who was out for at least another week to recover from a collapsed left lung.

Julius Randle

A Timberwolves player who finished with 27 points.

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What’s next

The Pistons will visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, while the Timberwolves will play the 76ers on Friday.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the importance of star players in the NBA, as both the Pistons and Timberwolves struggled without their top scorers. The Pistons' win keeps them in the hunt for top seeding in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but they will need to find a way to win without Cunningham if they hope to advance past the first round for the first time in over a decade.