NBA Notes: Pistons, Jalen Duren, Heat, Tyler Herro, Kings

Pistons

Jalen Duren came back from that ankle sprain and immediately reminded everyone he is a full-grown problem.

The Pistons’ center went for 31 points on 12-of-13 shooting, grabbed 15 boards and handed out three assists in a 29-minute demolition of the Pacers on Monday.

“He’s just continued to dominate and that’s the only way you can say it,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said, via Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press. “The way he’s rebounding the ball through contact and in traffic… he’s just playing a well-rounded game.”

Detroit also pushed its winning streak to 10 straight, the franchise’s longest run since 2008. Duren credited the work poured in over the summer, along with the culture shift that’s taken root under Bickerstaff.

“It’s still early in the season, we have a long way to go,” he said.

Meanwhile, Daniss Jenkins kept his breakout rolling with a career-high 26 points and eight assists. The second-year guard is on a two-way deal but has played like anything but, especially while the backcourt heals up.

Speaking of that backcourt, Cade Cunningham missed his third straight with a left hip contusion and Ausar Thompson missed his fourth with a right ankle sprain.

Both were ruled out late but Bickerstaff said they’re “trending in the right direction.”

Heat

Tyler Herro returned to practice but said he’ll need at least another week as he works back from September ankle surgery.

As Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald noted, Herro is now ineligible for postseason awards because he won’t reach 65 games. That means a “super-max” runway is off the table.

Herro shrugged it off.

“I just want to be on the floor as much as possible,” he said. “Last season I had a very healthy season. This season started weird for me. Once I’m back, I’m going to do as much as I can to be out there every game.”

Coach Erik Spoelstra doesn’t expect any fit issues once Herro returns.

“That’s easy to figure out,” Spoelstra said. “He’s one of the most skilled guys in the league. We miss him dearly.”

Herro is owed $64 million over the next two seasons.

Kings

The Kings are optimistic Keegan Murray could make his season debut later this week, per Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee.

The fourth-year forward practiced in the G League on Monday and has been cleared for full contact.

Murray underwent thumb surgery in the preseason and has missed five weeks. Sacramento said he’d be re-evaluated in four to six weeks, and this is the first real progress report since then.

The former No. 4 pick signed a five-year, $140 million extension shortly after the injury — a number that surprised some around the league, though rival teams still value him highly, per Sam Amick of The Athletic.

Sacramento has missed him badly. Without their best defender, the Kings have slipped to 3-11 and exposed a serious lack of forward depth.

Murray is expected to rejoin the team Wednesday in Oklahoma City before a possible return in Memphis or Denver.