# Jalen Duren returns with 24 points as NBA preseason nears its finish

Source: SportsBriefly (https://sportsbriefly.com)
Canonical URL: https://sportsbriefly.com/en/article/jalen-duren-24-points-pistons-preseason-return-2026-10-15-evening
Section: Basketball (https://sportsbriefly.com/en/basketball)
Author: SportsBriefly
Language: en
Published: 2026-10-15T23:00:42.279+00:00
Updated: 2026-10-15T23:26:02.560354+00:00

> Detroit’s centre made eight of nine shots in a 128-106 win over Minnesota, while the final preseason games bring opening night into view.

## TL;DR
- Duren scored 24 points in 15 minutes in his preseason debut.
- Detroit beat Minnesota 128-106 on 14 October.
- The regular season is scheduled to begin on 20 October.

## Key points
- Duren shot 8-for-9 from the field.
- Cade Cunningham added 14 points and nine assists.
- Anthony Edwards scored 20 for Minnesota.
- Toronto visits New York on 15 October at 23:30 UTC.

Jalen Duren gave Detroit an efficient late-preseason boost, scoring 24 points in only 15 minutes as the Pistons beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-106 on Wednesday. The NBA’s 15 October roundup reported that the centre made eight of his nine field-goal attempts in his first appearance of the preseason.

*Cover photo: Jalen Duren attacks the basket against Minnesota on 14 October 2026. Credit: [Copyright 2026 NBAE. David Sherman / NBAE via Getty Images](https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/duren-obliterates-all-concerns-in-sparkling-debut-as-pistons-net-blueprint-win).*

## Detroit gets a productive return

Duren’s contribution came alongside 14 points and nine assists from Cade Cunningham. Anthony Edwards scored 20 for Minnesota, but Detroit’s attack produced a comfortable final margin.

![Jalen Duren finishing at the rim in the NBA’s preseason coverage.](https://dcwdppdscydjemfvownz.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/media/api/1792106335742-a7ucp4-sports-2026-10-15-evening-basketball-inside-1-photo.jpg)

*Jalen Duren finishing at the rim in the NBA’s preseason coverage. Credit: [NBA Starting 5 / NBAE](https://cdn-uat.nba.com/news/starting-5-october-15-2026).*

The most useful signal is the combination of production and limited playing time. A preseason box score should not be treated as a forecast for the regular season, yet Detroit was able to give Duren competitive minutes without requiring a long outing. His finishing also gave Cunningham another interior option as the team moved closer to opening night.

The NBA’s roundup placed the performance among a busy Wednesday programme that also included San Antonio’s 123-103 win over Phoenix. Victor Wembanyama contributed 19 points and four blocks for the Spurs.

## Two more nights before the games count

Thursday’s schedule features Toronto at New York at 19:30 Eastern and Oklahoma City at Houston an hour later. In UTC, those starts are 23:30 on 15 October and 00:30 on 16 October respectively.

The league is also running NBA ID Member Days on 15-16 October, offering members access to selected preseason streams. Availability should be checked against the league’s local viewing information.

![Amen Thompson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in an archive photo accompanying the NBA’s Houston–Oklahoma City preview.](https://dcwdppdscydjemfvownz.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/media/api/1792106336417-cfemlw-sports-2026-10-15-evening-basketball-inside-2-photo.jpg)

*Amen Thompson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in an archive photo accompanying the NBA’s Houston–Oklahoma City preview. Credit: [NBA Starting 5 / NBAE](https://cdn-uat.nba.com/news/starting-5-october-15-2026).*

With the preseason due to finish on Friday and the regular season beginning on Tuesday, 20 October, rotation decisions and player readiness matter more than exhibition standings. Duren’s return gives Detroit a positive final data point without changing the distinction between a preparation game and a competitive regular-season result.

*15 October evening edition. Reporting reflects information available by 23:59 in Tbilisi (UTC+4).*

Mentions: Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, Cade Cunningham

## Sources
- [NBA Starting 5](https://cdn-uat.nba.com/news/starting-5-october-15-2026)
- [NBA game schedule](https://www.nba.com/games)
- [Toronto Raptors game details](https://www.nba.com/raptors/game/0012600055-raptors-vs-knicks-new-york-ny-10-15-2026)