Jalen Duren's monster day gets Pistons past Grizzlies

Rookie center leads Detroit to victory over injury-riddled Memphis squad

Mar. 14, 2026 at 7:49am

Jalen Duren scored 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to power the Detroit Pistons to a 126-110 victory over the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. Cade Cunningham added 17 points and 15 assists for the Pistons, who increased their lead in the Eastern Conference standings. The Grizzlies were missing six players, including three who have been ruled out for the season, and have now lost seven straight games.

Why it matters

The win helps the Pistons solidify their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race, while the Grizzlies' losing streak has them slipping down the standings in the West. Duren's dominant performance highlights the promising future of the Pistons' young core.

The details

Duren shot an efficient 13-of-18 from the field and also grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Pistons. Cade Cunningham recorded a double-double with 17 points and 15 assists, while Marcus Sasser scored 16 points off the bench. The Pistons shot 54.3% as a team. For the short-handed Grizzlies, Javon Small led the way with 23 points, while Ty Jerome and Cam Spencer also scored in double figures.

  • The Pistons increased their lead in the Eastern Conference to five games over second-place Boston.

The players

Jalen Duren

A rookie center for the Detroit Pistons who had a dominant 30-point, 13-rebound performance in the win.

Cade Cunningham

The Pistons' star point guard who recorded a double-double with 17 points and 15 assists.

Javon Small

The leading scorer for the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies, who had 23 points in the loss.

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The takeaway

Jalen Duren's dominant performance highlights the promising future of the Pistons' young core, while the Grizzlies' losing streak and injury woes have them slipping down the Western Conference standings.