The Detroit Pistons announced Sunday that center Jalen Duren has been cleared to begin on-court basketball activity, just over two weeks after suffering a right hamstring strain on Oct. 23 against the Miami Heat. The 22-year-old will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Duren missed the start of training camp due to a contract negotiation that concluded with a five-year, $200 million deal. He appeared in the final two preseason games and posted 22 points and nine rebounds in the season-opening win over Boston before the injury forced him out in the second quarter at Miami.
The Pistons have gone 4-2 without Duren, but have missed his presence on both ends of the floor. In his absence, Paul Reed has moved into the starting center role, averaging 12.8 points on 55% shooting with 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.2 turnovers, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks in 29.6 minutes per game. John Collins and Tolu Smith have also seen time at center.
Duren will miss at least the next eight games, including home matchups against the Los Angeles Lakers (Nov. 8) and Washington Wizards (Nov. 9), a road game at Washington (Nov. 12), and a four-game trip to Miami, San Antonio, New Orleans, and Toronto before a Nov. 22 game at Atlanta.
