Jalen Duren Powers Pistons Through Late Scare in Portland Win
So here’s what happened in Portland, and it turned out to be far more dramatic than it first looked. The Detroit Pistons opened their West Coast road trip with a 110–102 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, but it definitely wasn’t smooth sailing all the way through. What started as a blowout nearly slipped away, and it ended up requiring poise, toughness, and a huge night from Jalen Duren to close the deal.
Late in the third quarter, Detroit appeared to be cruising. A 21-point lead had been built, and everything seemed under control. But then momentum completely shifted. Portland caught fire, and a stunning 31–9 run was put together as the Pistons struggled to respond. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Detroit had been outscored badly and looked rattled, especially after Cade Cunningham picked up a flurry of fouls and eventually fouled out with more than eight minutes still left to play. His exit was followed by a technical foul, and suddenly the Pistons were without their floor general during the most critical stretch of the game.
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Portland took advantage of that opening. A three-pointer gave the Blazers their first and only lead of the night, and at that moment, Detroit had managed just four points in the entire fourth quarter. The game felt like it was slipping away.
That’s when the Pistons settled themselves. Tobias Harris calmly stepped to the line and knocked down free throws to stop the bleeding. Ausar Thompson made a massive defensive play with a steal that turned into a fast-break dunk. Then Jalen Duren took over the paint. An offensive rebound and strong finish restored belief, and Harris followed with a smooth midrange jumper that pushed the lead back to two possessions.
From there, Detroit closed the game with an 11–2 run. Thompson added a putback dunk in the final minute that felt like the dagger, and the Pistons walked away with a hard-earned win.
Duren was the centerpiece all night. He finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks, anchoring Detroit on both ends when things got shaky. Thompson added an impressive all-around effort, and key contributions were also provided by Duncan Robinson and Harris. The win pushed Detroit to 23–6, marking one of the best starts in franchise history and sending a clear message that this team can survive adversity.
Now, the road trip continues, but this win in Portland showed exactly how dangerous the Pistons can be when composure meets resilience.
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