DETROIT, Michigan — Jalen Duren had 31 points and nine rebounds as the Detroit Pistons defeated the Toronto Raptors, 127-116, to clinch the Central Division title on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
Duren is averaging 23.4 points and 10.5 rebounds in seven games since Cade Cunningham sustained a lung injury on March 17 in a 130-117 win over Washington. The Pistons are 6-2 without their star, including a 114-110 overtime loss in Oklahoma City on Monday — game Duren sat out.
Daniss Jenkins scored 21 for the Pistons, who have won seven of nine, and Duncan Robinson added 19 points. Detroit won its first division title since 2007-2008.
RJ Barrett had 24 points for Toronto, who had won six of nine, including a 119-108 home win over the Pistons on March 15. Brandon Ingram added 22 points.
Toronto missed its first 10 shots, but was able to get back into the game with defense and rebounding. The Raptors turned 13 Detroit turnovers into 23 points and pulled down nine offensive rebounds.
On one possession late in the first quarter, Collin Murray-Boyles pulled down five straight offensive rebounds before RJ Barrett hit a three-pointer on the sixth shot.
Detroit needed a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Jenkins to lead 59-54 at the half. The Pistons opened the third quarter with a 27-12 run to go ahead 86-66 and led 100-81 going into the fourth.
Duren had 10 of Detroit’s 41 points in the quarter, with Jenkins and Robinson each scoring eight. The Pistons shot 70 percent (14 of 20).
Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff rested his starters for most of the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, Brandon Miller scored 25 points, Miles Bridges had 19, and the Charlotte Hornets routed the Brooklyn Nets, 117-86.
Moussa Diabaté finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds while LaMelo Ball had 14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds to help the Hornets (40-36) stop a two-game losing streak.
Josh Minott scored 14 points for the lottery-bound Nets (18-58), who have lost 11 of their last 12 games.
Charlotte (40-36) is tied with the Miami Heat for ninth in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind Orlando.
The Hornets matched their season low for points allowed. Charlotte also allowed 86 points in a 25-point win at Toronto on Dec. 5.
The Hornets rebounded from consecutive home losses on Saturday to Philadelphia and on Sunday to Boston by taking a 35-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. Miller scored 16 points on 5-of-5 shooting — including three three points — and Charlotte shot 54.5 percent (12 for 22) from the field and 40 percent (6 for 15) from beyond the three-point line in the period.
Brooklyn trimmed the deficit to 47-39 after rookie Drake Powell hit a three-pointer with 5:19 remaining in the second quarter, but got no closer. Charlotte outscored the Nets, 70-47, the rest of the way.
The Hornets had 28 assists on 41 made field goals and outrebounded the Nets, 56-41.
