Pistons Clinch First Central Division Title Since 2007-08

Jalen Duren leads Detroit to division crown with 31 points and 9 rebounds in win over Raptors

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:22pm

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The Detroit Pistons defeated the Toronto Raptors 127-116 on Tuesday night to clinch the Central Division title, their first since the 2007-08 season. Jalen Duren led the way for the Pistons with 31 points and 9 rebounds, as Detroit has gone 6-2 without injured star Cade Cunningham. The Pistons' division title ends a nearly two-decade stretch of futility, with coach J.B. Bickerstaff praising his young team's growth and achievement of this milestone.

Why it matters

The Pistons' division title is a significant accomplishment for a team that has struggled for years to return to relevance in the NBA. It marks an important step in the franchise's rebuilding process and shows the potential of their young core, led by Duren, to compete at a high level even without their best player in Cunningham.

The details

Jalen Duren had a dominant performance, scoring 31 points and grabbing 9 rebounds to lead the Pistons to the 127-116 win over the Raptors. Daniss Jenkins added 21 points, and Duncan Robinson chipped in 19 as Detroit secured the division crown. The Pistons have now won 7 of their last 9 games, including an overtime loss to the Thunder on Monday that Duren sat out.

  • The Pistons clinched the Central Division title on Tuesday, April 1, 2026.
  • Detroit last won the division in the 2007-08 season, 18 years ago.

The players

Jalen Duren

A 23-year-old forward for the Detroit Pistons who has stepped up in the absence of injured star Cade Cunningham, averaging 23.4 points and 10.5 rebounds over the last 7 games.

J.B. Bickerstaff

The head coach of the Detroit Pistons, who praised his young team's growth and achievement in clinching their first division title in nearly two decades.

Cade Cunningham

The Pistons' star player who has been sidelined with a lung injury since March 17.

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What they’re saying

“You take pride in understanding how hard it is to do these things in this league. You take pride in the fact that you have a group of young men who have grown and achieved certain milestones. It's a part of the process, and we expect more.”

— J.B. Bickerstaff, Head Coach, Detroit Pistons

What’s next

The Pistons will look to continue their strong play and make a deep playoff run after clinching the division title. Their next game is on Thursday, April 3rd against the Indiana Pacers.

The takeaway

The Pistons' division title represents a significant turnaround for a franchise that has struggled for years to return to relevance in the NBA. It showcases the potential of their young core, led by Jalen Duren, and sets the stage for the team to potentially make a deep playoff push in the coming years.