Daniss Jenkins and Jalen Duren stepped as much as lead the Detroit Pistons to a season sweep over a Western Conference foe.
Jenkins completed with 26 factors, eight assists and 5 rebounds within the Pistons’ 113-108 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, April 2, their second win over the T’wolves within the span of per week. Detroit beat Minnesota on the highway, 109-87, Saturday. Duren added a double-double Thursday with 22 factors and 14 rebounds.
Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins (24) shoots within the first half towards the Minnesota Timberwolves at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
BAD NEWS: Tobias Harris injury update; Forward exits Pistons game vs Minnesota
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After locking up their first Central Division title for the reason that 2007-08 season on Tuesday, the Pistons gained once more to drop their “magic number” – the variety of Pistons wins and Boston Celtics losses mixed wanted to clinch the No. 1 seed within the Eastern Conference – to at least one. The Celtics have been idle on Thursday, but face the already-eliminated Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. A Milwaukee win would arrange the Pistons to face the to-be-determined No. 8 seed later this month.
Next up for the Pistons
The Pistons play 4 of their last 5 regular-season video games on the highway, beginning Saturday (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit/WMYD-TV/NBA TV) towards the 76ers in Philadelphia. After that, they’re off to Orlando to face the Magic on Monday.
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Pistons damage report
The Pistons have been with out Cade Cunningham (left lung pneumothorax) for the ninth-straight sport and Isaiah Stewart (left calf pressure) for the eleventh sport in a row. They also lost Tobias Harris in the first quarter due to a left knee contusion. Anthony Edwards (proper knee patellofemoral ache syndrome) was out for the Wolves.
DOWN AND OUT: Pistons’ Cade Cunningham out at least another week with lung injury
Turning it on within the fourth
It was a back-and-forth sport with 12 lead modifications and 10 ties, but the Pistons pulled away with an 18-3 run within the fourth quarter. They trailed, 89-85, with 8:19 remaining, but Jenkins sparked the run with a troublesome 3-point play. Consecutive dunks by Ausar Thompson and Duren halfway via the ultimate interval prolonged the run to 13-1, they usually took their largest lead of the evening – 103-92 – with 2:59 to play following a 3-pointer from Robinson.
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Defense helped the Pistons draw back, as they compelled seven turnovers within the fourth quarter. It received their transition sport going, resulting in 10 fastbreak factors, and helped result in an environment friendly evening capturing 47.7% total and 10-for-23 (43.5%) from 3.
Duncan Robinson (15 factors) and Kevin Huerter (12 factors) additionally reached double figures, and Thompson had an all-around efficiency with a close to triple-double – seven factors, 9 assists, 9 rebounds, three blocks and two steals.
Jalen Duren extra aggressive in rematch vs Rudy Gobert
Detroit Pistons heart Jalen Duren (0) shoots on Minnesota Timberwolves heart Rudy Gobert (27) within the first half at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
The first-time All-Star has been among the many league’s most dominant scorers since All-Star weekend and entered Thursday averaging 23.4 factors on 67.5% capturing over his final 21 video games. He has scored fewer than 15 factors solely 3 times in that stretch. One got here towards Gobert within the Pistons’ first sport towards the T’wolves final Saturday, wherein he completed with 10 factors, 13 rebounds and 5 assists on 4-for-7 total capturing.
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Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year standing 7-foot-1 with a 7-9 wingspan, is among the most difficult matchups within the league. Duren was much more lively towards him the second time round, matching his level complete from Saturday with 10 factors within the first quarter on 5-for-6 capturing. He made a degree to get into Gobert’s chest to create area, and maintained his typical energy benefit within the paint regardless of the scale disparity.
Duren has now scored not less than 20 factors in 11 of his previous 12 video games. While Cunningham and Stewart have been sidelined, he has additional entrenched himself as one of many league’s prime facilities and offered the Pistons a real main scoring risk who’s saved their offense afloat.
Ausar Thompson celebrates defensive award with toolsy efficiency
It was a statline that highlighted the various distinctive elements of Thompson’s sport – seven factors, 9 assists, 9 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. The reigning Defensive Player of the Month contributed in all areas to assist the Pistons pull off yet one more win towards a playoff crew with out their finest participant.
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Thompson was accountable for the largest spotlight of the evening – a two-handed alley-oop dunk over guard Donte DiVincenzo, courtesy of a wonderfully positioned lob from Robinson. But he made an even bigger influence as a playmaker, pacing the Pistons in assists whereas committing only one turnover. His 9 helpers marked a profession excessive.
Watch our podcast, “The Pistons Pulse,” talk about the Cade Cunningham damage fallout, the playoff chase and extra:
This article initially appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tobias Harris leaves, but Detroit Pistons top Minnesota Timberwolves