The Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves will be without their go-to options in tonight’s matchup. Detroit travels to Minnesota after torching the New Orleans Pelicans.

Jalen Duren (questionable) has done his part as the first option. He is averaging 26.5 points and 10.7 rebounds while shooting 86 percent from the charity stripe since Cade Cunningham’s absence. Duren has also picked up the slack in ways Cade flourishes.

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Minnesota may be without Anthony Edwards, but this is a squad that just became the first team to overcome a 10-point deficit in overtime in the play-by-play era. Edwards didn’t suit up for that one. The Timberwolves don’t draw dead without their star.

Game Vitals

Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

When: 5:30 PM

Watch: ABC/ Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit

Odds: Pistons (-1.5)

Analysis

Duren has not just dominated in the paint. He showed off skill work against the Pelicans.

For starters, this modern-day step tap tap back is not in a lot of centers’ arsenal. Duren pulled this off against a past-his-prime defender, but this can be a good counter when teams pack the paint.

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That is exactly what teams have done to combat Duren’s dominance. His playmaking for others has seen an uptick during this stretch as he has seen more bodies. Duren almost had a triple-double, notching a season-high seven assists in the last outing.

Kevin Huerter was one of the main beneficiaries of Duren’s passing. Huerter had his best offensive game as a Piston, knocking down four 3s. Huerter contributes doing the little things, but flame on shooting will keep him on the floor. It is hard to deny him when he is scrapping on defense, knocking down range shots, and making closeouts look silly.

Newly acquired Timberwolves combo guard Ayo Dosunmu would usually take a matchup like Huerter, but he is out with a calf injury. He has been a godsend for Minny. They have needed more ball handling around Edwards, and Dosunmu is more than solid.

The Timberwolves will be without Jaden McDaniels. He is their version of Ausar Thompson, who is questionable. Both are lanky, versatile, cream of the crop defenders who opponents hate to see coming. Ausar is more susceptible to blowing up plays off the ball, which takes his defensive value to another level. On the ball, Ausar is a different animal, too.

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There is not a stickier on-ball defender than No. 9 in Detroit. The way he recovers to remain unscreenable is one of one stuff. Once you are in Ausar’s sight, you are his.

Julius Randle could see a lot of Ausar as Ausar just battled with a similar beast in Zion Williamson. Ausar takes on all archetypes.

The Pistons will need to crack the Rudy Gobert code. He is quietly having another dominant defensive year. Kevin Durant thought Gobert was easy work in isolation, but he got put in a box in the clutch. Duren has the strength and skill to handle Gobert. That is a good test for the Pistons All-Star.

You can not discuss Detroit without acknowledging the work Daniss Jenkins is putting in. The fearless point guard from Dallas is averaging 20 points and eight assists while sporting a 61 true shooting percentage over the last five games. He buried five 3s as Detroit was scorching against the Pelicans (15-28 from 3).

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I expect to see a lot of full-court pressure from Jenkins (and Marcus Sasser if he plays) on Timberwolves guards like Bones Hyland.

The Hyland resurgence has been cool to see. He’s rangy with certified handles. Accountability and defensive buy-in keep him on the floor, but he’s dealing with different types of defenders tonight.

Detroit does more than get stops; they’re trying to take your basketball soul and make you double-think if you belong in this league with their defensive tenacity. Detroit looks to keep that intensity up against the Timberwolves, who are 4-1 over the last five without Edwards.

Lineups

Detroit Pistons (53-20): Daniss Jenkins, Duncan Robinson (questionable), Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

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Minnesota Timberwolves (45-28): Mike Conley, Donte DiVincenzo, Julius Randle, Naz Reid, Rudy Gobert

Question of the day

What regular-season award is any Pistons player/coach most likely to get?