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Charles Barkley slammed Detroit Pistons forward Jalen Duren before the team faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of their NBA Playoff series on Wednesday night.
The “Inside the NBA” team was going over the key players for the game and who needed to step up. Barkley put the onus on Duren, who had eight points and two rebounds in Game 4.
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Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons reacts after allowing a pass to go out of bounds in the second half of Game 4 of their NBA second-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland on May 11, 2026. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)
“His whole game is offensive rebounds and Cade (Cunningham) dunks. He’s not getting them,” Barkley said. “So, that’s really hurting him. Listen, you should never have two rebounds, ever. That’s two more than a dead person.
“You can never have two rebounds. But he’s a young kid. He’ll go to the gym, work on 12- to 15-foot jumpers or something. But he’s too good a player. He’s an All-Star.”
The Pistons blew a 15-point lead and allowed the Cavaliers back into Game 5 on Wednesday. Cleveland would survive Detroit in overtime, 117-113, to take a 3-2 lead in the series. Cleveland trailed 2-0 in the series before returning home for Games 3 and 4.
TNT college basketball analyst Charles Barkley on air before the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship between the Michigan Wolverines and the Connecticut Huskies at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
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Duren improved slightly since Game 4. He had nine points, five rebounds and four assists. But the goal didn’t come from him. He only took five shots during the game.
Only three Pistons starters scored in double figures. Cunningham led the team with 39 points. Daniss Jenkins added 19 and Tobias Harris had 13. Paul Reed added 10 points in 17 minutes off the bench. But that was all for the Pistons.
Cleveland got a big boost from James Harden. He scored 30 points with eight rebounds and six assists. Donovan Mitchell scored 21 points. While starter Dean Wade didn’t score or attempt a single shot, Max Strus scored 20 points, hit six 3-pointers and made two free throws.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden drives to the basket against the Detroit Pistons during the second half of Game 5 of the NBA second-round playoffs in Detroit on May 13, 2026. (Duane Burleson/AP)
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The Cavaliers could set a date in the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks if they win Game 6 on Friday.
