Jalen Duren continues to struggle in the playoffs, with one stat showing the sharp drop in his production against the Cleveland Cavaliers. After another quiet Game 4, Duren has now been held to single-digit scoring five times this postseason after doing so only six times during the entire regular season.
Jalen Duren has gone from one of the most efficient big men in the regular season to one of the Detroit Pistons biggest concerns in the playoffs.
The young center struggled again in Detroit's 112-103 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 on Monday night, finishing with eight points, two rebounds, and two assists.
But one stat shows just how difficult this playoff run has become for Duren.
According to ESPN Insights, Game 4 marked the fifth time in the playoffs that Duren was held to single-digit scoring. During the regular season, he scored under 10 points only six times in 70 games.
That sharp drop has become one of the biggest differences in Detroit's postseason run.
Duren entered the playoffs after a breakout regular season where he averaged a career-high 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 65.0% from the field. He also earned his first All-Star selection.
Against Cleveland, however, the numbers tell a completely different story.
Through four games, Duren is averaging just 9.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and shooting 44.1% from the floor. Cleveland's size and physical defense, led by Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, have made life difficult for the 22-year-old center around the basket.
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