The injury that limited Jalen Duren to ten minutes of play in the Detroit Pistons’ 128-111 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night was diagnosed as a strain in his right hamstring that will be re-evaluated in two weeks, according to a medical update from the team’s official media.
The All-NBA center, who averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists for last year’s surprise Eastern Conference number-one seed, spent the majority of the offseason locked in intense contract negotiations with the Pistons
before signing a 5-year deal worth $200 million earlier this month.
Hamstring strains are among the most difficult injuries to accurately predict a timetable for return. There has been no official word on the severity, but a re-evaluation after two weeks suggests that Duren suffered a Grade 1 or Grade 2 strain that will keep him off the court for weeks, rather than a Grade 3 strain that can take months to rehab, though a Grade 3 strain has not been ruled out publicly.
As Detroit looks to defend their one-seed and improve on their second round exit from last year, they will turn to Paul Reed to fill in at center, with newly-acquired free agent power forward John Collins playing some small-ball shifts at the pivot, as well.
Get well soon, Jalen Duren. Hopefully, you get to use some of that free time to spend your fresh, well-earned pile of cash.
