Cunningham posted 39 points on 13-for-27 shooting and 10-for-11 from the free-throw line, adding five rebounds and four assists in 40 minutes of action.
Duren, meanwhile, played 33 minutes but took only four shots, finishing with eight points, seven rebounds, one block and one assist, a distribution mismatch for a player who had been a postseason focal point.
Postgame, Cunningham addressed how Detroit can better maximize Duren’s involvement, saying, “Just give him space. Make sure that I’m giving him good passes. There were a couple of times when I felt like I had him–didn’t give him clean passes. We just have to make sure that we’re spacing properly, making crisp passes, and if they’re packing the paint, make sure we’re making plays on the backside.”
Duren had been a production leader for the Pistons this season, averaging 19.5 points on 65.0% shooting and 10.5 rebounds over 70 games in the regular season, underscoring the gap between expectation and postseason delivery in Game 1.
What’s next for the Pistons is Game 2, set for Wednesday, April 22, at 7 PM ET. Going on the road, Detroit faces a tougher challenge and will need to protect home floor while finding a way to involve Duren more effectively.
The series remains in the balance, but Detroit must balance Cunningham’s scoring with improved spacing and ball movement to unlock Duren’s talents as they head into the rematch.
