Detroit Pistons First Basket Stats 2025-26: Who Scores First
Jalen Duren scored the Pistons’ first basket more than anyone in 2025-26: 23 times in 83 starts, or 28% of the games they started. Tobias Harris was next with 18. The Pistons made the game’s first field goal in 52% of their 95 games and won 43% of their opening tipoffs. Everything below is counted from the play-by-play of every 2025-26 game (1,225 regular season, 85 playoffs, 6 play-in).
Who scored the first basket for the Pistons in 2025-26
First basket for team is the first field goal by any DET player; first basket of game is the game’s first field goal by anyone. Rates are per game started.
| Player | Starts | First basket for DET | Rate | First basket of game | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Duren | 83 | 23 | 28% | 13 | 16% |
| Tobias Harris | 76 | 18 | 24% | 9 | 12% |
| Cade Cunningham | 77 | 15 | 19% | 8 | 10% |
| Duncan Robinson | 87 | 12 | 14% | 7 | 8% |
| Ausar Thompson | 85 | 12 | 14% | 4 | 5% |
| Paul Reed | 11 | 5 | 45% | 4 | 36% |
| Daniss Jenkins | 22 | 4 | 18% | 2 | 9% |
| Isaiah Stewart | 13 | 2 | 15% | 2 | 15% |
| Javonte Green | 6 | 2 | 33% | 0 | 0% |
| Ronald Holland II | 5 | 1 | 20% | 0 | 0% |
| Kevin Huerter | 3 | 1 | 33% | 0 | 0% |
How often the Pistons scored first
| Split | Games | Scored first | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| All games | 95 | 49 | 52% |
| Home | 48 | 24 | 50% |
| Away | 47 | 25 | 53% |
| Regular season | 81 | 43 | 53% |
| Playoffs | 14 | 6 | 43% |
Opening tipoff
| Jumper | Tipoffs | Won | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Duren | 79 | 34 | 43% |
| Paul Reed | 9 | 4 | 44% |
| Isaiah Stewart | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Team | 90 | 39 | 43% |
How the Pistons’ first baskets were scored
| Method | First baskets | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Layup | 38 | 40% |
| 3-pointer | 26 | 27% |
| Other 2-pointer (jumper, hook, tip) | 20 | 21% |
| Dunk | 11 | 12% |
2024-25
| Player | Starts | First basket for DET | Rate | First basket of game | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tobias Harris | 79 | 18 | 23% | 13 | 16% |
| Cade Cunningham | 76 | 16 | 21% | 7 | 9% |
| Jalen Duren | 84 | 16 | 19% | 6 | 7% |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 83 | 14 | 17% | 8 | 10% |
| Ausar Thompson | 54 | 11 | 20% | 6 | 11% |
| Jaden Ivey | 30 | 5 | 17% | 5 | 17% |
| Malik Beasley | 18 | 5 | 28% | 2 | 11% |
| Isaiah Stewart | 4 | 3 | 75% | 3 | 75% |
Who scores the first basket most often for the Pistons?
Jalen Duren, with 23 of the Pistons’ first baskets in 2025-26 (28% of their 83 starts), ahead of Tobias Harris with 18.
How often do the Pistons score first?
The Pistons made the first field goal in 49 of 95 games in 2025-26 (52%): 50% at home and 53% on the road.
Who takes the opening tipoff for the Pistons?
Jalen Duren took 79 of the Pistons’ 90 opening tips in 2025-26 and won 43% of them.
Is Jalen Duren a good first basket bet?
That depends on the price. A player who scores first for their team in 28% of starts is worth a bet only when a book prices them below that, after adjusting for tonight’s lineup and opponent. Our models make that comparison every 30 minutes for every NBA game; see NBA first basket picks.
Source: NBA play-by-play and box scores, 2025-26. Updated October 13, 2026. See the NBA first basket leaders for every team, or all stats.