DETROIT — Rookie Ron Holland II was sprawled across the Detroit Pistons’ half-court logo as he repeatedly slapped his hand against the hardwood with pride.
Holland had just fought over a Kelly Olynyk screen chasing CJ McCollum, resulting in Olynyk’s sixth and final foul. The 19-year-old wing was 25 points into his 26-point night that led the Pistons to a 136-130 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. Holland tied his career high with 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting and 1-of-3 from long range, adding six assists, five rebounds, a steal and no turnovers.
Fans at Little Caesars Arena rose to their feet at Holland’s hustle, as they did for the better part of the evening when Holland was on the floor. But Sunday was more than just Holland’s best game of the season.
It came 10 games before the start of the postseason and was a confidence-building performance for a player who could eventually provide a necessary playoff boost for Detroit. Holland scored from all three levels, consistently made the right plays to lead the team in assists and trailed only Jalen Duren in rebounds for the Pistons.
“Just coming into the season, as a rookie, my main focus was to let them know that I’m here,” Holland said after the game. “As in, I’m here to play hard every single night, in practice and games. I just want them to know that I’ve got their backs as much as they’ve got mine. That can be tough sometimes, but I know there’s trust from Trajan (Langdon) down to the players. The culture around here is just amazing.”
Holland was Detroit’s focal point in the absence of Cade Cunningham (calf soreness), but Marcus Sasser added 20 points off the bench on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Sasser finished at a game-high plus-18 in a 6-point win. Duren chipped in 22 points, 12 boards and two assists.
Six Pistons scored in double figures by the final buzzer, and Isaiah Stewart finished with 9. But more specifically, Holland led Detroit to a win it needed to avoid back-to-back losses without Cunningham and Tim Hardaway Jr. Hardaway was sidelined because of a sprained right ankle he suffered against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.
One major factor in Holland’s progression to this point is his willingness to adapt to any role his team needs him to play. Even if his past teams have revolved around him.
“He just impacts winning, in a way, because it matters to him,” Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the win. “At this age, most guys are trying to figure out, ‘If it’s not about me, then what are we doing?’ He’s done a tremendous job all year of only giving a s— about the team and his teammates.”
The Pistons were clinging to a 118-115 lead when Holland made his most selfless play of the game. Duren retrieved an offensive rebound and kicked the ball out to Holland. Holland had just hit a jumper for his 23rd point and had an open look at another triple.
Instead, Holland let New Orleans guard Jordan Hawkins close out to him as he drove toward the basket. Once Holland caused Hawkins to help, he kicked the ball out to an open Sasser for his third and final long-range shot. That play stood out as an obvious example of Holland’s prioritizing team basketball over his own success.
“Most guys at 19 years old who have been ‘the guy’ have had the ball in their hands all their lives, and the focus has been about them,” Bickerstaff said. “Don’t understand how to play with others. … Ron just has an understanding of how to impact winning. He’s a fierce competitor.”
Apart from his unselfishness, Holland shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the field and notched 14 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter. His ability to get downhill was on full display during the final frame, with 6 of his 14 coming while putting pressure on defenders at the rim.
Sasser’s 20 points off the bench trailed only Holland’s. Though Sasser is in his second season and seemingly oozing with confidence whether he gets minutes, his performance could breed even more confidence as well. Especially with minutes being scarce now that Dennis Schröder has occupied the backup point guard duties.
“Marcus Sasser has been through a lot with us,” Bickerstaff said from the postgame podium. “He’s had opportunities. He’s had moments where he hasn’t played. But every time he plays, he puts himself in position to help this team win basketball games. I can’t say how difficult that is, but all I can tell you is how important it is to us. … A lot of respect and appreciation for him.”
Sasser’s winning play earned him the coveted BTA (belt to ass) honors and the belt itself.
And the belt goes back to… Sass pic.twitter.com/UK0PfkD5FX
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) March 23, 2025
It was a moment Sasser earned primarily for his play late in the game. Much like Holland, Sasser did most of his work in the fourth quarter, scoring half of his 20 points during the frame. And though this was an injured Pelicans team without its best player, the Pistons were without Cunningham, Ivey and Hardaway.
Detroit (40-32) begins its three-game homestand with a win and reaches the 40-win mark for the first time since 2018-19. The Pistons will welcome the San Antonio Spurs (31-39) to town Tuesday before rounding out the trip against the Cleveland Cavaliers (57-14). Detroit maintains its spot at sixth in the Eastern Conference behind the Indiana Pacers (41-29) and Milwaukee Bucks (40-30).
Of the Pistons’ final 10 games of the regular season, eight are against teams entering Monday at .500 or better. The Spurs will face Detroit amid a three-game winning streak despite having a losing record. Though the Toronto Raptors (24-47) are on a four-game losing streak and are the only other team on the Pistons’ schedule with a losing record, 17 of their wins have come in 2025.
Detroit will need to be at its best during the home stretch to avoid the Play-In and earn an outright playoff spot among the top six teams in the conference. Additionally, each of those games offers Pistons fans an opportunity to watch the continued development of the youngest player on Detroit’s roster: Holland.
“I just got lucky that I ended up here,” Holland said of his connection with Pistons fans and the city. “Being able to come here and just be myself, and the amount of love I get from the city — it’s just amazing seeing how much they embrace the grit and amount of toughness I bring to this team.”
(Photo: Brian Sevald / NBAE via Getty Images)
