Rookie Ron Holland stars as Pistons down Pelicans

Field Level Media|published: Mon 24th March, 11:34 2025

Mar 23, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Kelly Olynyk (13) shoots the ball while falling to the court after tripping over Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) in the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Rookie Ron Holland tied a career high with 26 points as the host Detroit Pistons defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 136-130 on Sunday afternoon.

Holland added six assists and five rebounds. Jalen Duren powered for 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Marcus Sasser supplied 20 points. Dennis Schroder added 16 points and five assists.

It was the Pistons' second victory over the Pelicans in less than a week. Detroit (40-32) romped to a 127-81 win on the Pelicans' home floor on Monday.

CJ McCollum carried New Orleans (19-53) with 40 points and seven assists while Jordan Hawkins had 25 points.

The Pistons played without All-Star Cade Cunningham due to a calf injury. New Orleans forward Zion Williamson missed the contest due to a lower back contusion.

The Pistons jumped to a 36-27 lead by the end of the first quarter as eight of nine players that coach J.B. Bickerstaff played scored. Detroit finished the quarter with a 13-3 run, including two Simone Fontecchio 3-pointers.

Isaiah Stewart's 3-pointer with seven minutes left in the half gave Detroit a 12-point advantage. Duren had a personal 5-0 run late in the half to make it 64-51. The Pelicans finished the half with an 8-4 spurt, including five points from McCollum, to cut the Pistons' lead to 68-59 by halftime.

Duren had 17 points and seven rebounds at the break to lead Detroit.

The Pelicans opened the second half with a 7-3 spurt that included five points and an assist from McCollum. An 8-0 New Orleans run, including two McCollum baskets, midway through the quarter gave it a 74-73 lead. A Hawkins 3-pointer stretched the Pelicans' lead to four points. McCollum hit another 3-pointer for a 91-85 lead.

Holland scored six points during an 8-0 Pistons run before the quarter ended, putting his team back on top, 93-91.

It remained close in the fourth. Duren's putback midway through the quarter gave the Pistons a 113-110 lead. Holland and Sasser hit 3s to nudge the lead to 121-115. Holland's layup with two minutes left increased the advantage to eight.

New Orleans couldn't get closer than five the rest of the way.

--Field Level Media

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