Detroit Pistons rookie Jalen Duren had a tough task in guarding Kings star Domantas Sabonis during Sacramento's 122-113 victory Friday night at Little Caesars Arena.
The contest marked Sabonis' seventh straight game with a double-double, thanks in part to his 5-for-7 shooting night at the free-throw line.
Considering Duren's four fouls on the night while defending Sabonis, some found his postgame comments ... interesting.
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SIGN UP HERE "How tough is defending Domantas Sabonis, defending him without fouling?" a reporter asked Duren after the game.
"It's not that hard," Duren responded.
It seems like it might have been more difficult than Duren cared to admit.
For the most part, Duren held his own against Sabonis during the first half. The youngster offered one of his best performances of the season and finished with a double-double of his own, but Sabonis and Co. couldn't be stopped in the second half.
Duren recently took over the Pistons' starting center role, and he acknowledged that he now has to go up against some of the NBA's best bigs -- like Sabonis.
NBA
"[The biggest challenge is] understanding the difference in the quality of players, going against elite guys -- elite big guys," Duren said. "Some of the best that the league has to offer.
"So for me, I just try to come in locked in and just watch a whole lot of film, locked in on the scouting report and just try to do my job to stop them."
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At just 19 years old, Duren certainly has plenty more games against elite bigs like Sabonis ahead of him.
And maybe those future assignments won't be that hard, either.