Monday’s NBA headlines feature a dominant night from Jalen Duren, progress in Tyler Herro’s recovery and encouraging news on Keegan Murray.
Pistons
Center Jalen Duren returned from a sprained ankle and immediately delivered a career performance, scoring 31 points on 12-for-13 shooting, collecting 15 rebounds and dishing three assists in 29 minutes as Detroit overwhelmed Indiana on Monday night.
“He just keeps overpowering people,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said, according to the Detroit Free Press. “The way he rebounds in traffic shows how complete his game is right now.”
The victory pushed the Pistons’ win streak to 10, their longest stretch since 2008. Duren attributed the surge to offseason work and a cultural shift under Bickerstaff. “It’s early—we still have a lot left to do,” the 20-year-old noted.
Guard Daniss Jenkins, on a two-way contract, added a personal best 26 points and eight assists while Detroit’s backcourt remains banged up. Cade Cunningham (left hip contusion) sat out a third straight contest, and Ausar Thompson (right ankle sprain) missed his fourth. Bickerstaff said both are “trending in the right direction.”
Heat
Tyler Herro practiced with Miami for the first time since undergoing ankle surgery in September but said he will need at least another week before playing. Because he will fall short of 65 appearances, the guard is now ineligible for postseason honors, eliminating a potential path to a super-max extension.
“I just want to be on the floor,” Herro told reporters. “Last year I was healthy; this one started weird. Once I’m back, I’ll try to play every game.”
Coach Erik Spoelstra does not foresee reintegration issues. “That’s easy—he’s one of the most skilled players in the league. We miss him,” Spoelstra said. Herro is owed $64 million over the next two seasons.
Kings
Sacramento expects forward Keegan Murray to make his season debut later this week, The Sacramento Bee reported. Murray worked out with the team’s G League affiliate Monday and has been cleared for full contact after missing five weeks following preseason thumb surgery.
The fourth overall pick in 2021 signed a five-year, $140 million extension shortly after the procedure. Without their top defender, the Kings have slipped to 3-11, exposing thin depth at forward.
Murray is scheduled to rejoin the NBA club Wednesday in Oklahoma City and could return to game action in Memphis or Denver.
Source: Hoops Wire
