Going into their second night of a back-to-back set, the Detroit Pistons are hopeful for the status of their star center, Jalen Duren.
On Tuesday, March 31, the Pistons are hosting the Toronto Raptors.
According to the official NBA injury report, Duren has been upgraded to probable.
The veteran center just got the night off against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
via Omari Sankofa, Detroit Free Press: Jalen Duren (right knee injury management), Tobias Harris (left hip) and Duncan Robinson (right hip) have all been upgraded to probable after missing last night’s game in OKC. Caris LeVert (right knee patellar tendinopathy) and Marcus Sasser (right hip) are questionable.
During the Pistons’114-110 overtime loss against the Thunder, Detroit rolled out Paul Reed to replace Duren.
The veteran center checked in for 34 minutes. Reed went 7-13 from the field and knocked down 6-8 free throws. The center produced 21 points and logged a double-double with 10 rebounds.
*FINAL UPDATE: Jalen Duren has been officially upgraded to AVAILABLE for Tuesday’s game against the Raptors.
Jalen Duren Is On Pace To Return vs Raptors
Prior to Monday’s game, Duren’s last absence came on February 19. Lately, the star center has been fortunate to remain healthy and thriving for the first-seeded Pistons.
This season, Duren has appeared in 64 games. The veteran center has shot 64.2% from the field to produce 19.3 points per game. He is averaging a double-double with 10.6 rebounds per game.
The veteran big man was voted in as an All-Star this year for the first time in his career.
With the Pistons’ other All-Star, Cade Cunningham, benched with a collapsed lung, the Pistons have been relying heavily on Duren to keep them afloat.
Detroit has remained the top team in the Eastern Conference with a 54-21 record and a 4.0-game lead over the second-seeded Boston Celtics.
UPDATE: Detroit Pistons Get Good Jalen Duren News Before Raptors Game