DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons returned to Little Caesars Arena on Sunday looking to secure their 40th win of the season but were without two key players.
Guards Cade Cunningham — a late scratch due to calf soreness — and Tim Hardaway Jr., who suffered an ankle injury Friday against the Dallas Mavericks, were both sidelined against the New Orleans Pelicans. Malik Beasley and Dennis Schroder stepped into the starting lineup in their absence.
Despite missing their stars, a spirited effort led by rookie Ron Holland, Jalen Duren, and Marcus Sasser saw six Pistons score in double figures as Detroit defeated the Pelicans 136-130.
With the win, the Pistons improved to 40-32, marking their first 40-win season since 2019 under former head coach Dwane Casey, when they finished 41-41.
Early on, the Pistons looked out of sync without Cunningham’s presence as a floor general and playmaker, as well as Hardaway’s defensive prowess.
Duren carried the offensive load in the first half, leading all scorers with 17 points while adding seven rebounds. His strong performance helped Detroit take a 68-59 lead into halftime. He finished the night with 22 points and 12 rebounds.
At the 6:39 mark of the third quarter, New Orleans’ C.J. McCollum drove to the basket for an easy bucket, giving the Pelicans a 74-73 lead — their first since the opening quarter.
However, Holland stepped up in the third, scoring six of his 12 points in the period to help the Pistons regain control and head into the final quarter with a 93-91 lead.
Holland and Sasser were instrumental in keeping the Pelicans at bay down the stretch. The duo combined for 37 points in the second half, with Sasser finishing with 20 and Holland contributing 26 — tying his career high and leading all Pistons scorers.
The former NBA G League Ignite standout left his mark all over the game, adding six assists, five rebounds, and a steal to his impressive performance.
Schroder also delivered, scoring 16 points, while Tobias Harris added 14 and Beasley chipped in 13.
**Game note:** With 7:48 left in the second quarter, Pelicans forward Keion Brooks Jr. was assessed a Flagrant 1 for “unnecessary roughness/hostile act” against Pistons forward Ron Holland. Brooks appeared to grab the back of Holland’s neck as the rookie drove to the basket.