Ten and Rolling: Duren Leads the Way, Jenkins Delivers Again
What a ride it’s been. If you asked me after the first couple of games whether the Detroit Pistons were going to be good this year, I probably would’ve pumped the brakes. I even wrote about my early concerns with the offseason additions.
That’s the life of an impatient fan — we get hyper-critical before anything has a chance to settle. Guilty as charged.
But here we are: the Detroit Pistons are playing some of the best basketball in the NBA, pushing their winning streak to ten straight with a convincing 127–112 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night. It’s their longest streak since 2008, and the buzz around this team feels more alive than it has in over a decade.
Still, as the Pistons gear up for a tricky road matchup with the Atlanta Hawks, those good vibes come with a dose of reality. The injuries are starting to stack up — and even with all the next-man-up magic we’ve seen, there’s only so long a team can keep outrunning the injury report.
Pistons 127, Pacers 112 — Stat Capsule
Detroit Pistons (21–2)
Leading Scorer: Jalen Duren — 31 pts, 15 reb
Daniss Jenkins — 26 pts, 8 ast
Javonte Green — 20 pts
Team FG%: 55%
Team 3PT%: 26%
Rebounds: 43
Indiana Pacers (1-13)
Top Scorer: Paskal Siakam — 29 pts
Team FG%: 42%
Team 3PT%: 29%
Turnovers: 21
Duren Dominates in Monumental Return
If there was any doubt about how much the Pistons missed Jalen Duren, Monday night erased all of it.
After missing the last two games with an ankle sprain, Duren returned with a vengeance, putting up a monstrous 31 points and 15 rebounds. He bullied Indiana inside, finished everything around the rim, and reminded the league that he’s one of the strongest, most efficient young big men in basketball.
His return changed the entire geometry of the offense — spacing improved, second-chance opportunities returned, and the Pistons once again looked like the inside-out juggernaut they’ve been during this historic run.
But he wasn’t alone.
- Daniss Jenkins was sensational, dropping 26 points and 8 assists — the best game of his Pistons career.
- Javonte Green came off the bench cooking, adding 20 points and injecting his usual chaos-energy.
This was the signature of a team that refuses to blink, no matter who’s in or out of the lineup.
How the Game Unfolded
Detroit set the tone early and never really gave it back. After a competitive first quarter, the Pistons exploded in the second with a 36–25 run that stretched the lead to 16 by halftime. From there, they managed the game with maturity — answering every Indiana push, maintaining control, and keeping the Pacers at arm’s length the rest of the night.
Even in the fourth quarter, when Indiana finally found some rhythm, Detroit’s cushion was too much to overcome. It was the kind of wire-to-wire composure you expect from a contender — not a team patching lineups together on the fly.
The Injury Bug Bites… Hard
The winning streak is real.
The confidence is real.
But so are the concerns.
The Pistons’ injury report heading into Atlanta is long, and critical:
Questionable:
- Cade Cunningham (hip) — missed last two games
- Ausar Thompson (ankle) — missed last three
Out:
- Tobias Harris (ankle) — eighth straight absence
- Marcus Sasser (hip)
- Bobi Klintman (ankle)
- Jaden Ivey (fibula) — still no timetable
- R.J. Hampton (still ramping up)
Cunningham’s potential absence looms largest.
Before the hip injury, Cade was averaging:
- 27.5 points
- 9.9 assists
- 5.4 rebounds
That’s All-NBA production — and Detroit’s offense is built around his control of pace and decision-making. Without him, the Pistons have found ways to win, but relying on Jenkins, Green, and secondary creators is not a long-term formula.
Cade’s Big Off-Court Win: The Nike Bag Secured
Even as his on-court status remains uncertain, Cade’s superstar trajectory took another leap forward. Cunningham finalized a massive six-year endorsement deal with Nike, including plans for his own signature shoe debuting in the 2026–27 season.
This is elite territory — only a handful of players in the league get signature shoes.
It’s validation of Cade’s star power, marketability, and his central role in Detroit’s resurgence.
The city has its franchise player… they just need him back on the court.
Scouting the Hawks: Will the Streak Reach Eleven?
The Pistons now head to Atlanta for the second night of a back-to-back to face the 9-5 Hawks, one of the most dynamic offensive teams in the league. It’s a tough matchup — and that’s before factoring in Detroit’s injuries.
If Cade and Ausar both sit, the formula becomes clear:
- Duren needs to dominate again
- Jenkins and Green must provide consistent scoring
- The bench — particularly Bagley and Fontecchio — must deliver
- The Pistons must avoid long droughts where shot creation becomes Cade-dependent
But here’s the thing:
This ten-game win streak has rewritten expectations.
This team plays with edge, confidence, and a refusal to fold — and they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt.
If they pull off eleven straight under these conditions?
The narrative around the Pistons shifts from “fun surprise” to legitimate Eastern Conference threat.
Is there a big man in the league — outside of maybe Nikola Jokić — that you’d take over Jalen Duren if you were starting a team from scratch? Drop your comment below, or join the conversation in the Pistons Hardwood Hub — where fans break down every win, every run, and every spark of Detroit’s streak.
Info gathered from team reports, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.
