The Pistons head into tonight’s 7 p.m. matchup with the Wizards coming off a tight 107-105 win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday, a game that turned fast after halftime. Detroit trailed 68-50 at the break, then ripped off a 34-16 third quarter and got the finish it needed from rookie Ebuka Okorie.
There were plenty of reasons the win stood out. Five Pistons scored in double figures, and the comeback set the stage for a few players worth tracking again tonight.
Ron Holland is one of them. He led all scorers against the Suns with 14 points, even though he shot 4 for 12 from the field.
At 6-foot-8, he brings the kind of length and athleticism that can make life miserable for opposing offenses, especially when paired with first-team all- defender Ausar Thompson. Holland played in 78 games at about 20 minutes per game, and if he can keep showing that he can score while defending at a high level, there’s a path to more minutes.
Okorie is the other name that jumps off the page after Monday. The No. 17 pick made his first NBA appearance and delivered right away, finishing with seven points on 3-for-4 shooting and burying the game-winning basket with 5.8 seconds left to put Detroit ahead.
He was a plus-seven in 10 minutes, and his work in pick-and-roll actions and dribble handoffs already stands out. At 6-foot-1 with a long wingspan, he gives the Pistons a guard who can control the game, and his college scoring numbers - 23 points per game - suggest there’s more offense there if the ball stays in his hands.
Expect his minutes to rise tonight.
Then there’s Isaiah Joe, who didn’t have his cleanest shooting night against Phoenix. He went 2 for 8 from the field and 1 for 6 from deep, but the expectation is that the shot will come around. Joe adds shooting and championship experience to a Pistons group that needs more help from outside besides Duncan Robinson, and he could be in line for a much better offensive showing later tonight.
In Other News...
Pistons May Have A Bigger Backcourt Swing Than Fans Expected
The Pistons head into the upcoming season with a clear priority: keep leaning on the defense that helped them stay competitive, while finding a way to squeeze more offense out of a roster that needs it. That balance is part of why the backcourt has become such a point of interest, especially for a team trying to take the next step in the playoffs without losing the identity that got it there.
Around the league, Detroit has reportedly kept an eye on a potential swing at Kyrie Irving, a sign that the front office may be thinking bigger than a modest upgrade. The idea is still speculative, but the conversation has enough traction to be worth watching as the season unfolds, particularly if Irvings situation shifts and opens the door to a move that could be handled more smoothly than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Face Early Roster Questions As Ron Holland Tries To Answer One
Ron Holland II is getting one of the first real chances this preseason to show where he fits for the Pistons, and the second exhibition against the Wizards offers another early look at how Detroits young group is coming together. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has already hinted at a deeper rotation in this one, which should give the roster more room to sort itself out after the opener and give Holland a stage to build on the expectations around his development.
There are a few other spots worth watching as the Pistons keep evaluating their options. Jalen Duren is expected to be available, and his presence would add another important layer to the frontcourt mix as Detroit tries to settle into a preseason rhythm. In the backcourt, the competition for the reserve minutes has also started to take shape, with Saben Lee and rookie Ebuka Okorie both trying to make their case while the Pistons continue sorting through early lineup decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Cade Cunningham Faces A Pistons Problem That Could Limit Everything
Cade Cunningham enters the season carrying a familiar kind of burden for a young franchise cornerstone: the hope that he can lift the offense almost by himself while Detroit waits for the rest of the roster to catch up. The Pistons have not made a major move to land a true co-star for him this offseason, and for now the next wave of help still depends on internal growth from Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson.
That leaves Cunningham in a tough spot, because the more the attack runs through him, the more every mistake and every exhausting stretch matters. His turnovers and late-game fatigue could become bigger issues if he keeps shouldering nearly every offensive possession, which is the kind of load that has made other star guards vulnerable when the supporting cast never quite arrives. [Read more 🡒]