Duren Dazzles in Debut as Pistons Flatten Timberwolves 128-106 at Target Center
Detroit erased a 10-point first-quarter hole, shot nearly 58 percent and forced 20 turnovers to spoil Minnesota's final home tune-up.
A week before the regular season, Wednesday night at Target Center offered a clean read on both teams: the Detroit Pistons looked connected and physical in a 128-106 win, while the Minnesota Timberwolves' new-look offense showed why integration takes time.
Detroit flipped it before halftime
Minnesota raced to a 38-29 lead after one quarter behind an early Jaden McDaniels scoring burst. Then Detroit closed the first half on a 12-2 run to lead 65-58 and never looked back, per Yahoo Sports' recap. The Pistons shot 57.9 percent from the field, scored 64 points in the paint and forced 20 Minnesota turnovers, holding the Wolves to 33.3 percent shooting after halftime.
Jalen Duren, making his preseason debut after missing Detroit's first two games, scored the Pistons' first three baskets and controlled the paint at both ends. Duncan Robinson hit 4-of-5 from three for 15 points, Cade Cunningham returned with 14 points and 9 assists, and John Collins added 11.
Minnesota's turnover problem
The Wolves' offense created good looks early — the ball movement and secondary-break threes were real — but careless passes piled up. LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards combined for nine assists against seven turnovers, per a Yahoo Sports breakdown, which flagged ball security and perimeter defense as the two things Minnesota must clean up before opening night. The Ball–Rudy Gobert pick-and-roll, at least, showed promise, with Gobert making smart short-roll reads and finishing lobs.
For Detroit, the encouraging part isn't the margin — it's that nine players recorded a steal and the offense hummed even with Duren eased back in after missing the first two games. The Pistons are back home Friday against Toronto; Minnesota heads into the regular season with one glaring item on the to-do list, written in 20 turnovers.