Jalen Duren breaks out offense in Detroit Pistons preseason-ending win

The Detroit Pistons concluded their preseason with a victory over the Toronto Raptors, 129-125, at Little Caesars Arena on Friday, Oct. 16. Cade Cunningham led the charge with 18 points and seven assists, while Jalen Duren contributed 14 points and two steals on 6-for-9 shooting, despite committing six turnovers. Ebuka Okorie, Ausar Thompson, and John Collins also scored in double digits.

The Pistons dominated Toronto's shooting, limiting them to a 42.9% clip, while managing a 58% field goal percentage themselves. Toronto's star players Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, and the rest of the regular season starters were absent, allowing the Pistons to rely on their core five: Cunningham, Duren, Thompson, Collins, and Duncan Robinson.

The Pistons led by as many as 13 points, but a 13-0 fourth-quarter run by Toronto gave them the lead, 100-99, with 7:08 remaining. Okorie sealed the win with clutch free throws in the final seconds. This marked Jalen Duren's second exhibition game, and he continued to impress with his improved ball-handling skills, midrange shooting, and ability to break down defenses. This performance indicated that his breakout third-team campaign last season was no fluke.