Pistons
Duren's 24 and a 64-30 paint gap sink Wolves in preseason rout
The Pistons overturned an early 9-point hole to beat the Timberwolves 128-106 in a preseason game at Target Center. Detroit shot 57.0% from the field and outscored Minnesota 64-30 in the paint, while 60 bench points sealed the final margin. It's a preseason result, so no standings impact.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 4 d ago01The story of the nightMinnesota's fast start didn't holdThe Timberwolves opened with a 38-29 first quarter, hitting shots early before cooling off.
The Timberwolves opened with a 38-29 first quarter, hitting shots early before cooling off. Detroit answered with a 36-20 second quarter to turn a 9-point deficit into a 65-58 lead at the half. The Pistons kept pulling away with a 32-24 third quarter for a 97-82 edge, then closed it out 31-24 in the fourth. Detroit built a 26-point lead at its biggest, while Minnesota's largest lead was only 10. Twelve lead changes came almost entirely in the opening frame.
02Duren and the bench carried DetroitJalen Duren led all scorers with 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting and 8-of-8 free throws in just 15.1 minutes.
Jalen Duren led all scorers with 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting and 8-of-8 free throws in just 15.1 minutes. Duncan Robinson added 15 points on 4-of-5 from three, and Cade Cunningham ran the offense with 14 points and 9 assists, though he also had 5 turnovers. Isaiah Joe scored 14 off the bench and John Collins added 11 on 4-of-5 shooting. Detroit's reserves combined for 60 points, well above Minnesota's bench total of 47.
03Won in the paint, despite turning it overDetroit shot 57.0% from the field (45-of-79) against Minnesota's 38.2% (29-of-76), and the biggest gap was inside:…
Detroit shot 57.0% from the field (45-of-79) against Minnesota's 38.2% (29-of-76), and the biggest gap was inside: 64 paint points for the Pistons against just 30 for the Timberwolves. Detroit also ran for 20 fast-break points to Minnesota's 15. Both teams turned it over 20 times and scored 22 points off turnovers apiece, and both had 11 steals, so the difference came down to shot quality and the paint, not ball security.
04Edwards scored but the efficiency wasn't thereAnthony Edwards led Minnesota with 20 points but needed 15 shots to get there, going 5-of-15 from the field and…
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 20 points but needed 15 shots to get there, going 5-of-15 from the field and finishing a team-worst minus-15. Jonathan Kuminga was Minnesota's most efficient scorer with 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting and 2-of-3 from three. Jaden McDaniels added 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Minnesota made up some ground at the free-throw line, going 37-of-44, well ahead of Detroit's 27-of-33.
05What it meansThis was a preseason game, so it has no bearing on the regular-season standings; both teams start the year 0-0.
This was a preseason game, so it has no bearing on the regular-season standings; both teams start the year 0-0. For Detroit, the paint dominance and bench scoring were the clearest positives. For Minnesota, the second-quarter collapse and the 64-30 paint deficit are the numbers to clean up before the games count.
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