Jalen Duren continues to show skills, Alec Burks snipes to power Pistons past Wizards
WASHINGTON D.C. — The Detroit Pistons avoided an emotional hangover Monday, a day after swinging their first trade of the season.
In fact, it was the opposite. Big games from Alec Burks and Jalen Duren powered the Pistons (4-36) to just their fourth win of the season on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, defeating the Washington Wizards, 129-117, to end a seven-game losing streak.
It is the Pistons' second road win this season, and first since Oct. 27 over the Charlotte Hornets in the second game of the season.
Burks was electric for the Pistons, scoring a season-high 34 points on 8-for-12 shooting from 3. Duren scored 20 points and made all eight of his attempts, and also grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds. Jaden Ivey had a solid performance with 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists despite five turnovers.
INSIDE THE DEAL: Pistons trade with Wizards 'first step' in charting franchise back on track
The Wizards were led by Tyus Jones (22 points, seven assists) and Flint native Kyle Kuzma (21 points), who was ejected late in the fourth quarter after picking up his second technical foul.
The Pistons were without top two scorers Cade Cunningham (knee strain) and Bojan Bogdanovic (calf strain).
It was an ironic matchup, considering the teams completed the trade a day prior. The Pistons sent Isaiah Livers and Marvin Bagley III and received Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala in return. All four players were inactive for their new teams. The Pistons also sent two second-round picks.
[ MUST WATCH: The "The Pistons Pulse" podcast with Omari Sankofa II and Bryce Simon reacted live to the trade Sunday morning with Spotrac cap expert Keith Smith. Watch the broadcast replay below. ]
A 9-0 run at the end of the third gave the Pistons control of the game for good. After committing nine turnovers in the first half for 15 Wizards points, Detroit committed four in the third quarter and two in the fourth.
The Pistons took a game-high 15-point lead with 2:05 after an inbounds pass from Burks set up Duren for a layup. The Pistons shot 55.6% overall and 38.7% from 3 (12-for-31).
The Pistons begin a six-game homestand Wednesday vs. Minnesota, the Western Conference's top team.
Duren improving offensive game
With the shot clock winding down, Duren received the ball right above the restricted area. With two defenders between him and the rim, he quickly spun left, losing both of them to get himself an easy layup.
The 19-year-old big man has assumed more offensive responsibility since Cunningham injured his left knee last week, and that play was just one of many where Duren has showcased improved touch and handle. He has scored at least 15 points in his past five games — the last four with Cunningham out.
READ MORE: Pistons pushing Jalen Duren to expand offensive game with Cade Cunningham out
Turnovers bite Pistons (again) early, but Burks shines off bench
It was a similar script in the first half for a Pistons team that has struggled with turnovers since opening night. They entered halftime with nine, fueling a 19-5 run that allowed Washington to turn the Pistons' nine-point lead early in the second quarter to a five-point deficit midway through it.
Burks started this season hot, and then went through an extended slump, before finding his touch again toward the end of December. The Pistons should be thankful the veteran sharpshooter put together one of his best halves to help them enter halftime with a 63-62 lead.
Burks scored 20 points in the first half, hitting six of nine 3-point attempts. A pair of 3s late in the first period allowed the team to starve off a Washington run and lead by seven at the end of the quarter. His next four 3-pointers were all in the final three minutes and 20 seconds of the half, and his 12 consecutive points scored for the Pistons allowed them to retake the edge.
The Pistons cut down on turnovers in the second half, committing four in the third quarter and zero in the fourth to help them secure the win. Burks’ eighth and final 3 of the day, midway through the fourth quarter, extended the lead to 115-105 and provided the cushion necessary to close the game out.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him @omarisankofa.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Alec Burks scores 34 as Detroit Pistons beat Wizards for win No. 4
