There was no doubt from the Detroit Pistons that adding All-Star center Jalen Duren back to the rotation after serving his two-game suspension would be to their benefit.

But in his first night back, Duren did more than just contribute as he posted a team-high 26 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Pistons’ 126-110 win over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.

“He’s a guy that’s just been a dominant force on both ends of the floor,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “You could feel the pressure he brings, the gravity he brings. How many bodies they have to bring to him. It’s great to have him back.”

Little time was wasted as Duren took the court in a Pistons uniform for the first time since Feb. 9 when he was one of four players ejected from a matchup against the Charlotte Hornets for a brawl that broke out mid-game.

Duren imposed his will on the game, using all 6-foot-10, 250 pounds the center carries to outmuscle a Bulls team lacking in size. He finished the game with six offensive rebounds and accounted for 10 second-chance points in a game where he still shot 60% from the field.

Missing two games in the heart of Detroit’s schedule was difficult for the 22-year-old and something he doesn’t hope to replicate any time soon.

“It felt good to be back, man,” Duren told reporters postgame. “I was with the team, practicing, shoot around, but I couldn’t be in the arena during the game, so that was tough. That was different. Never went through that ever. Don’t want to go through it again.”

Duren being one of the engines for Detroit’s success is nothing new for the season. However, in his absence the Pistons fared just fine.

Front court depth was at a premium for the Pistons as Isaiah Stewart began serving his seven-game suspension at the same time for his role in the fight.

But the Pistons also pride themselves on depth and rarely show a lack of effort even when multiple top players are missing. Cade Cunningham put up big numbers and reserve center Paul Reed was every bit as impactful as a regular starter by averaging 20 points, six rebounds and 3.5 blocks in his two starts.

Reed, 26, has played in just 40 games for the Pistons and is often used sparingly. Any time he’s asked to step in, Reed finds a way to impact the team, earning the distinction as a “consummate professional” by his teammates.

“The way he prepares behind the scenes and just keeps a level head,” veteran guard Duncan Robinson said of Reed. “He’s had a tough task of being in and out of lineups and I can’t recall a time his number was called and he wasn’t ready.”

This was the third time Reed was called upon to start a stretch of games in place of Duren, previously due to injuries.

In total he’s made eight starts and the Pistons are 7-1 in those games. It’s why Duren had no concerns about who was stepping up in his place during the suspension.

“I know who my teammates are, I know who we got in this locker room,” Duren said. “I know the character of these guys. Every big top to bottom is more than capable of getting the job done…(Reed) stepping up to the plate as he always does. I already knew what was going on.”

With Duren back, the All-Star gets back to his typical starting spot. But with Stewart still out another five games, Reed’s role won’t diminish quite yet. He played nearly 20 minutes off the bench and added 15 points and nine rebounds.

The Pistons are about to enter a slog of a week that features matchups against the San Antonio Spurs (40-16), Oklahoma City Thunder (43-14) and Cleveland Cavaliers (36-21) in five days.

They’ll need every bit of energy from their front court to try and keep their five-game winning streak going. That’s just what Duren, Reed and anyone else called upon is ready to give.

“(We’re) super hungry,” Duren said. “We know the opportunity that’s in front of us, but we know that we still got a lot more to clean up and a lot more to do until we’re where we need to be and where we want to be. But, we’re excited.”