JALEN Duren posted 31 points and nine rebounds as the Detroit Pistons defeated the Toronto Raptors, 127–116, on Tuesday night (Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in PH) to clinch the Central Division title, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
Duren has been on a tear, averaging 23.4 points and 10.5 rebounds over the last seven games since Cade Cunningham suffered a lung injury on March 17 in a 130–117 win over Washington.
The Pistons have gone 6–2 without their star guard, including a 114–110 overtime loss in Oklahoma City on Monday — a game Duren missed.
Daniss Jenkins added 21 points for Detroit, which has won seven of its last nine games, while Duncan Robinson chipped in 19. The Pistons secured their first division title since the 2007–08 season.
RJ Barrett led Toronto with 24 points, while Brandon Ingram contributed 22. The Raptors, who had won six of their last nine games, previously defeated Detroit, 119–108, on March 15.
Toronto struggled early, missing its first 10 shots, but clawed back into the game through hustle plays. The Raptors converted 13 Detroit turnovers into 23 points and grabbed nine offensive rebounds.
One sequence late in the first quarter highlighted their effort, as Collin Murray-Boyles secured five consecutive offensive rebounds before Barrett finally knocked down a three-pointer on the sixth attempt.
Still, Detroit regained control, taking a 59–54 halftime lead after Jenkins drained a buzzer-beating three-pointer. The Pistons then broke the game open with a 27–12 run to start the third quarter, extending their advantage to 86–66 and carrying a 100–81 lead into the fourth.
Duren scored 10 of Detroit’s 41 points in the third quarter, while Jenkins and Robinson added eight each. The Pistons shot an efficient 70 percent (14 of 20) in the period.
With the game in hand, Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff rested his starters for most of the fourth quarter.
Magic 115, Suns 111
In another game, Desmond Bane scored 21 points, while Jalen Suggs added 20, eight rebounds, and seven assists as the Orlando Magic held off the Phoenix Suns, 115–111.
According to an AP report, Devin Booker poured in 34 points for Phoenix, including a three-pointer that cut the deficit to two with 3.1 seconds remaining. However, Tristan da Silva sealed the win with two free throws, giving Orlando just its second victory in the last nine games.
Dillon Brooks, returning for the Suns after missing time with a broken hand suffered on Feb. 21, finished with nine points and five rebounds in 22 minutes but was plagued by fouls. He picked up a technical foul just 89 seconds into the game and was among 10 players who finished with at least four personal fouls.
Paolo Banchero had 19 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists for Orlando, which overcame 25 turnovers after committing 28 in a heavy loss to Toronto last Sunday. Wendell Carter Jr. added 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Elsewhere, Charlotte beat Brooklyn 117–86, the Houston Rockets routed the New York Knicks 111–94, Milwaukee Bucks topped Dallas Maverics 123–99, LA Lakers defeated Cleveland Cavaliers 127–113, and Portland won 114–104 against the LA Clippers. / LBG