The Pistons have ruled out Jalen Duren and listed Ausar Thompson as questionable for Sunday, Oct. 25's game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Both players' statuses stem from injuries they sustained in the 128-111 win over the Miami Heat on Friday, Oct. 23. Duren suffered a right hamstring strain. Thompson went down with a right ankle sprain.
Duren's injury occurred midway through the second quarter when he attempted a spin move on Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. During the move, Duren suddenly grabbed his leg and grimaced in pain. He quickly ran to the locker room afterward.
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After the injury, the Pistons listed Duren as questionable; however, the All-Star center did not return. He played 10 minutes and finished with six rebounds, four points, and three assists. Duren's most significant impact against the Heat came on defense. He was vital in helping the Pistons contain Antetokounmpo, who had scored 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting in the first half.
In the two defensive possessions before his injury, Duren stopped Antetokounmpo twice. At the 7:22 mark of the second quarter, Antetokounmpo tried to complete a left-handed layup, but Duren rejected his attempt. On the Pistons' next defensive possession, Andrew Wiggins tried to make an entry pass to Antetokounmpo, but Duren came away with the steal.
With Duren sidelined with a hamstring injury, the All-NBA center is expected to miss an extended period, depending on the severity of the strain. There are no updates on Duren's estimated return.
Thompson's injury took place at the 6:37 mark of the third quarter while trying to block a layup attempt by Wiggins. The two players got tangled, and Thompson came down awkwardly on his ankle. After falling, Thompson stayed on the ground in pain before heading directly to the locker room. Like Duren, Thompson did not return to the game.
Although Thompson will likely return to the lineup before Duren, he hurt the same ankle that forced him to miss five games during the 2025-26 season.
If Duren and Thompson miss time, their absences will force the Pistons to rely heavily on their depth to maintain the momentum they built during their three-game road trip. After a game against the 76ers, the Pistons will travel to New York to face the defending champion Knicks.
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Pistons' Jalen Duren out, Ausar Thompson questionable for 76ers game