Jalen Duren's struggles on offense against the Orlando Magic have hurt the Detroit Pistons so much that they are now just one game shy of elimination.

But the Pistons’ big man’s day got worse after Jamal Cain posterized him on Monday.

Under four minutes in the fourth quarter, when the Pistons were making a push to get the lead in the game, Cain ran full court, took five dribbles, beat Cade Cunningham at the half-court, and posterized the last man standing between him and the basket, sending fans on social media into a frenzy. 

This series has been a wake-up call for Duren, and it extends to the Pistons as well. He was named an All-Star for the first time in his career this season, as the Pistons climbed to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. However, Duren averaged 9.0 points and 8.3 rebounds across the first three games, and the team now trails 3-1 in the series.

Before Monday’s matchup, Duren was already under immense pressure to vindicate all the lauds that he had received during the regular season.

One area in which he excelled was defense, averaging 2.0 blocks per game. But Cain’s poster of him might have subdued even that credit. It was one of the best poster dunks in the last few years, and fans made sure it was lauded. 

Fans lose it after Jamal Cain bodies Jalen Duren for a poster dunk

Jamal Cain bodied Duren mid-air, and in less than a second, the Pistons star found himself on the floor. A fan called it a “3-piece combo.”

“Straight 3 piece combo....slammed, dropped, and cleaned the floor with him,” the fan wrote.

The poster dunk was a statement from the Magic as the Pistons tried to mount a failed comeback in the series. Fans didn’t find it hard to put it among the top dunks from the year.

“Jamal Cain just sent Duren’s ancestors flying, that’s going straight to the top 10 of the year, no debate,” one fan commented.

This season, the young Pistons star had a legitimate case for himself as one of the top centers in the league. He entered the playoffs as a first-time All-Star. However, this series against the Magic has exposed Duren on many fronts, particularly on off-ball defense and shot creation.

“That one was straight-up vicious. Duren’s getting exposed bad in the playoffs, and this clip is gonna haunt him for a while,” a fan warned.

For some fans, this dunk could impact the max extension he is eligible for this offseason.

“Duren just lost 5 mil off his next contract,” a fan wrote. 

It is hard to deny that, even going deep into his career, it will make a cut for an all-time highlight reel for Cain’s career mixtape. 

“Jamal Cain just turned Jalen Duren into a highlight package, that’s not a poster, that’s a career screenshot,” one fan said.

What are your thoughts about Jamal Cain’s poster dunk on Jalen Duren? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Written by

Nandjee Ranjan

Edited by

Siddharth Rawat