The READ
NBA Recap | March 26, 2026
Detroit bounced back emphatically — Jalen Duren with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists on 86.8% true shooting in a 21-point win over New Orleans. Charlotte kept its impossible three-point run alive, knocking off the Knicks 114-103 as Kon Knueppel double-doubled with 26 and 11 rebounds and Moussa Diabate locked the game down with 4 steals. And DeMar DeRozan dropped 33 with 11 assists as Sacramento hung with Orlando until the Magic pulled away in the fourth — 121-117 the final. Three games. Let's run it.
DETROIT BOUNCES BACK BEHIND DUREN'S STATEMENT NIGHT
Detroit Pistons 129, New Orleans Pelicans 108
Two days after coughing up a win in overtime against Atlanta, Detroit got right. The Pistons went 56.5% from the field, 53.6% from three, and never let New Orleans get comfortable after taking the lead back in the second quarter. Jalen Duren was the anchor — 30 points on 10-of-12 shooting, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 10-of-12 from the free throw line. That's 86.8% true shooting in a masterclass of interior efficiency. He drew 7 fouls and finished every possession that mattered. Daniss Jenkins stayed hot with 19 and 9 assists, shooting 5-of-7 from three. Kevin Huerter came off the bench for 22 on 9-of-14 shooting (4-of-7 from three). Tobias Harris had 12 and 7 assists in a quiet, steady performance. Detroit led by as many as 23 and scored 37 points in the fourth to put it away cleanly.
New Orleans made it interesting early — they led after one — but couldn't sustain it once Detroit's offensive machine got going. Zion Williamson had 21 on 8-of-13 shooting, Saddiq Bey added 17, and Derik Queen double-doubled with 11 and 11 rebounds. But NOP's free throw shooting was a disaster — 45.8% on 24 attempts (11-of-24) — and Detroit scored 22 points off turnovers. Detroit is back on track at 53-20, sitting comfortably in first place, and focused heading into Saturday's game at Minnesota.
NOP 108 · DET 129
CHARLOTTE BEATS NEW YORK, KNUEPPEL ERUPTS
Charlotte Hornets 114, New York Knicks 103
Charlotte's three-point hot streak has no end in sight. The Hornets went 16-of-41 from three — their fifth consecutive game shooting 39% or better from deep — and dominated the middle quarters to win by 11 and hand New York a costly loss in the Eastern Conference seeding race. Kon Knueppel was spectacular: 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting (6-of-10 from three), 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 82.5% true shooting. That's a double-double with near-triple-double distribution and elite efficiency. Brandon Miller added 21 on 4-of-8 from three. Moussa Diabate didn't score much — 2 points — but had 4 steals and anchored the defensive interior. Miles Bridges chipped in 17.
New York needed this game to inch closer to Boston in the East race. They didn't get it. Jalen Brunson had 26 with 13 assists — a double-double that deserved to come with a win — but shot just 10-of-23 from the field (43.5%) and was -6. OG Anunoby had 17 on 5-of-9 from three, and Josh Hart put together a complete 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals. But Charlotte outrebounded New York 52-30 — a staggering margin — and that advantage on the glass, plus the three-point accuracy, were too much. The Knicks falter and are positioned to hold the three seed in the East.
NYK 103 · CHA 114
DEROZAN'S 33 NOT ENOUGH AS ORLANDO HOLDS ON
Orlando Magic 121, Sacramento Kings 117
DeMar DeRozan had one of the best games of his Sacramento tenure — 33 points on 12-of-24 shooting (all twos), 9-of-10 from the line, and 11 assists. A genuine double-double built on midrange relentlessness and free throw dominance. Daeqwon Plowden backed him up with 23 off the bench on 8-of-12 shooting (6-of-10 from three) — the most efficient player on the floor at 89.3% true shooting. Sacramento shot 51.1% and had a 3.33 assist-to-turnover ratio. In any other game, that's a win.
Orlando just did enough. Desmond Bane led the Magic with 23 on 6-of-11 shooting (3-of-6 from three) and 8-of-8 from the free throw line — 79.2% true shooting. Tristan da Silva had 18 at 93.4% TS. Orlando got off to a 39-30 first quarter and held the lead just enough through three tight quarters before pulling away 28-27 in the fourth. Wendell Carter Jr. double-doubled with 10 and 11 rebounds despite modest shooting. The Magic held Sacramento scoreless at the rim on 11 of 26 attempts — that's where the game was decided. Orlando moves to 39-34 and continues to fight in a crowded Eastern play-in race.
SAC 117 · ORL 121
⭐ STAR OF THE NIGHT
Jalen Duren | Detroit Pistons - 30 PTS | 10-12 FG | 10-12 FT | 10 REB | 7 AST | 86.8% TS
Ten-of-twelve from the field, ten-of-twelve from the line. Duren was virtually perfect — 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists in a bounce-back win Detroit needed. He finished inside at will, drew free throws in bunches, and ran the offense through the post the way very few centers can. On a night when Detroit needed a statement after the Atlanta OT loss, Duren provided one. Honorable mention to Kon Knueppel (26/11/8 on 82.5% TS) and DeMar DeRozan (33 points & 11 assists).
💀 DUD OF THE NIGHT
Dejounte Murray | New Orleans Pelicans - 12 PTS | 5-15 FG | 37.8% TS | -15 | 5 TO
Murray shot 5-of-15 from the field, turned it over 5 times, and was a -15 in a game New Orleans was never really in after the first quarter. He had 7 rebounds and 4 assists to soften the blow on the stat sheet, but a 37.8% true shooting mark on 15 attempts is a lead guard performance that put his team behind from the start. With NOP's season over, there's nothing riding on it — but it's still a night to forget.
QUICK TAKES
Detroit bounces back with a 21-point win. Duren at 86.8% TS is the most dominant individual performance of the night — 10-of-12 from the field, 10-of-12 from the line. That's a perfect game by most standards.
Charlotte is now 39-34 and has beaten New York on their home floor. The Hornets have gone 39%+ from three in five straight. Their high level of play and momentum could carry them out of the play-in tournament.
The Knicks' loss to Charlotte creates some separation between them and Boston. Now the Celtics control their own destiny and are in position to lock down the 2nd seed.
Kon Knueppel: 26 points, 11 rebounds, & 8 assists with 82.5% TS. He's been Charlotte's breakout player of this run and is making a legitimate case for NBA Rookie of the Year.
Charlotte outrebounded New York 52-30. In a game decided by 11, that margin on the glass was the story before the three-point shooting even gets mentioned.
DeMar DeRozan's 33 with 11 assists in a loss is an extraordinary line. Sacramento outplayed Orlando for three quarters and still lost — Orlando's rim defense in the fourth quarter was the difference.
Desmond Bane went 8-of-8 from the free throw line at 79.2% TS. The Magic needed every bit of it to hold off a Sacramento team that simply would not go away.
Daeqwon Plowden off the bench for Sacramento: 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting (6-of-10 from three) at 89.3% TS. An elite bench performance in a losing effort.
New Orleans shot 11-of-24 from the free throw line (45.8%). Against a Detroit team that was already humming offensively, that's not a recipe for staying in a game.
