Detroit Pistons, Jalen Duren
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Knicks vs. Hawks, Game 5, Apr. 28, 2026
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Are you losing in a series? Or tied against a lower seed? Wow, you have it so rough. I'm so sorry. But do other people have it harder?
The Pistons got some nice offense from Ausar Thompson, who scored 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting on the night, working down low and remaining patient for some crafty finishes at the rim. The Hawks just kept pouring on the offense behind a 15-point second quarter from Johnson.
The Pistons are not some teams. Some teams might have shrugged after their relentless comeback seemed to be for naught when Atlanta took a five-point lead with 44 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Hawks came in hot, winners of 13 of 14 games. They’re also highly incentivized to win to stay out of the play-in round.
Despite playing a vital role in the Pistons' 60-win season, Jalen Duren missed out on being named the NBA's Most Improved Player of the Year.