Pistons Big Man Joins Wilt Chamberlain in Record Books
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Fresh off a win against the Charlotte Hornets Monday, the Detroit Pistons took the floor Wednesday hoping to keep their momentum rolling. Next up for them was a matchup against Immanuel Quickley and the Toronto Raptors.
Thanks to a historic performance from one player, the Pistons managed to keep secure their second win in a row. In the end, they ended up taking down the Raptors by a final score of 113-104.
The biggest standout for Detroit in this game was Jalen Duren. In just 28 minutes of action, he finished with a dominant stat line of 24 points, 23 rebounds, and five assists on near perfect shooting (8-for-9).
With this outing, Duren put his name next to one of the greatest centers ever in the history books. The Pistons big man became just the fourth player ever to record at least 20 points, 20 rebounds, and five assists on 88% shooting or better. The others are Wilt Chamberlain, Willis Reed, and Sacramento Kings big man Domantas Sabonis.
Duren's 23 rebounds is tied for the fifth-most in a game this season. The top spot currently belongs to Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic with 31. Former Pistons All-Star Andre Drummond holds two of the top spots with 26 and 25 rebounds on two separate occasions.
Performances like this are a testament to the massive step forward Duren has taken in year two. He's steadily racked up double-doubles all year, and now has a third 20-20 game under his belt.
The 20-year-old has been one of the league's top rebounders all year, grabbing just under 12 a game. His effectiveness scoring the ball is a testament to his growing chemistry with Cade Cunningham. As he wraps up his sophomore campaign, Duren continues to prove why he should Detroit's big man of the future.
