NBA Player News

Duren (ankle) registered 13 points (5-10 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 13 rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block across 29 minutes in Friday's 136-113 loss to the Pacers.

Though Detroit opted to ease Duren back from a five-game absence as a bench player, he saw a fairly standard amount of playing time and came through with an efficient double-double backed up by some contributions in the defensive categories and the second-best assist total on the team. Duren will most likely reclaim his spot in the starting five from Marvin Bagley in the Pistons' next game Monday against the Wizards. Assuming he's omitted from the injury report, Duren looks like a worthy lineup option in just about every format during the Pistons' upcoming four-game week.

Gobert amassed 12 points (5-8 FG, 2-2 FT), 11 rebounds and two blocks across 36 minutes during Friday's 124-111 loss to the Kings.

The veteran center is up to 11 double-doubles through 15 games to begin the season, a big improvement on his first season with the Timberwolves when he managed only 35 in 70 contests. Gobert has also recorded multiple blocks in 11 games, and his 2.2 blocks per game is back in the range he lived in with Utah. Minnesota is 11-4 so far, and the decision to run it back with Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns and give the duo a chance to develop some chemistry in the frontcourt is paying dividends.

Towns logged 27 points (9-15 FG, 4-5 3Pt, 5-5 FT), 11 rebounds and four assists over 38 minutes during Friday's 124-111 loss to the Kings.

It's his second straight double-double and eighth of the year in 15 games, as Towns finally begins to look comfortable in the frontcourt alongside Rudy Gobert. Towns has scored 20 or more in nine straight games, averaging 25.6 points, 8.9 boards, 3.2 assists, 2.6 threes, 1.0 steals and 0.9 blocks over that stretch while posting a 57.9/53.5/90.7 shooting line.

Sabonis closed with 15 points (7-15 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 0-1 FT), 11 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals in 39 minutes before fouling out of Friday's 124-111 win over the Timberwolves.

The five steals-plus-blocks were a season high for Sabonis, who also delivered his 12th double-double (plus one triple-double) in 15 games. The 27-year-old big is enjoying a strong start to 2023-24 overall, averaging 19.9 points, 12.3 boards, 7.0 assists, 1.0 blocks, 0.9 steals and 0.5 threes while shooting 62.0 percent from the floor and 41.2 percent from three-point range.

Lopez finished Friday's 131-128 victory over the Wizards with 39 points (14-17 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 7-7 FT), five rebounds, one assist, three blocks and two steals over 32 minutes.

Lopez had a hot hand throughout the close contest, missing just three of his 17 shot attempts and draining all seven of his free-throw tries. The veteran center's 39 points tied the career-best mark that he originally established while playing for the Nets way back in 2011. Lopez didn't score more than 16 points in any of his first 14 games this season, but he's exploded for 67 total points during his past two contests, making an absurd 26 of 35 field-goal tries (74.3 percent) over that span.

Adebayo supplied 21 points (8-16 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 5-6 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals in 35 minutes during Friday's 100-98 loss to the Knicks.

Adebayo led all players in Friday's contest in rebounds while finishing as one of two Heat players with 20 or more points in a double-double performance. Adebayo, who also notched a team-high-tying steals total, has recorded a double-double in nine games this year, posting at least 20 points and 10 boards in eight of his last 10 outings.

Boucher closed Friday's 121-108 win over the Bulls with four points (1-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), one rebound and one steal in 10 minutes.

Boucher has been limited to 10 minutes in two straight games and is trending down in fantasy basketball. Starting center Jakob Poeltl has been on fire for the Raptors, and Precious Achiuwa has been getting the bulk of the frontcourt minutes for the second unit.

Poeltl notched 15 points (7-8 FG, 1-5 FT), 10 rebounds, three assists, one block and two steals across 31 minutes during Friday's 121-108 win over Chicago.

This was the seventh double-double of the season for Poeltl as he continues to trend up in fantasy basketball. He's been on fire from the field over his last five games, shooting 86.7 percent with averages of 11.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 blocks.

Vucevic ended Friday's 121-108 loss to the Raptors with nine points (4-8 FG, 1-2 3Pt), eight rebounds, five assists and one steal in 36 minutes.

For the first time this season, Vucevic was unable to score in double digits. He's certainly been trending down in recent games, averaging 13.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists over his last five outings. He also has a total of one block in that stretch.

Duren (ankle) will come off the bench for Friday's game against the Pacers, Scott Agness of FieldhouseFiles.com reports.

The Pistons will watch Duren's minutes according to coach Monty Williams, but no specifics were given. It's understandable why the Pistons will be cautious, as Duren has missed the past five games and his ankle has flared up a couple times this season.