What happened: Jalen Duren will start preseason Game 3 for Detroit, returning to the first unit. Paul Reed opened the preseason in his place while Duren worked back after the October extension.

Why it matters: Detroit committed five years and $200 million to keep Duren as its starting center. Reinstalling him now lets the Pistons test regular-season rotations ahead of the 2026-27 opener.

What to watch: His playing time and whether Detroit keeps the same starters for the preseason finale will show if this group sticks.