Paul Reed will move into the starting lineup Sunday against the 76ers, a change prompted by Jalen Duren being ruled out with a hamstring injury. The shift gives Reed a larger role right after a strong bench performance in Friday’s win over the Heat.
Reed posted 19 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes on Friday, production that stands out because it came in reserve minutes rather than as a starter. Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press reported the lineup change, and the timing matters because Sunday is the next game on the schedule.
That does not tell the whole story, though. Reed’s move up comes off one game in that role, not a long stretch of starts, so the question is less about whether he can handle the job for one night than whether the lineup is set only until Duren is ready again.
For now, Reed gets the opening nod, and the rest depends on how long Duren stays sidelined. The report does not say how long the hamstring injury will keep Duren out, which leaves Reed’s place in the starting five tied directly to a return date that has not been set.
