Ron Holland Ignites Pistons Off the Bench, While Bucks' Late Collapse Raises More Questions
Detroit Pistons: Ron Holland Seizes the Moment
When the Pistons needed a lift on Monday night, Ron Holland didn’t just step up-he changed the game.
With Duncan Robinson out, Detroit was looking for someone to bring energy and scoring punch off the bench. Holland answered that call in a big way.
In just 17 minutes of action, the rookie dropped 17 points, grabbed six boards, and added two steals. His impact was immediate and undeniable, helping the Pistons edge out a 99-98 win over the Hawks in a game that came down to the wire.
“He was unbelievable,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said postgame.
“He was the spark for us. We struggled tonight.
I thought Ron gave us a ton of energy. He was phenomenal.”
Holland’s approach is as mature as his game. He talked about using his bench role to read the rhythm of the game before attacking when his number’s called.
“Coming off the bench allows me to slow the game down,” Holland said. “There are going to be nights we start slow.
That is what the bench mob is for. We bring that spark.”
And that spark is starting to show up in the stat sheet. The Pistons continue to climb the NBA’s hustle charts, ranking among the league’s best in deflections, loose balls recovered, and contested shots. It’s not always pretty, but Detroit is building an identity-one built on energy, effort, and guys like Holland making the most of their minutes.
Milwaukee Bucks: Another Late Collapse, More Defensive Woes
While Detroit found a way to win, the Bucks found another way to lose.
Milwaukee dropped a 129-126 heartbreaker to the Wizards on Monday, a game they led by 16 in the third quarter. But that cushion evaporated fast, thanks to a 24-8 Washington run and some clutch shot-making down the stretch from two familiar faces: former Buck Khris Middleton and veteran CJ McCollum.
“You let a team like that get close, they’ll beat you,” head coach Doc Rivers said. “If it gets to a four-minute game, they have two players in Middleton and McCollum that know how to play.”
The Bucks, now 9-13, are in a tough spot. Giannis Antetokounmpo has missed time recently, but even when he’s on the floor, Milwaukee hasn’t looked like the contender many expected. This team started slow last season too before turning things around, but this year’s issues feel a little more baked in.
The new defensive pairing of Myles Turner and Antetokounmpo hasn’t delivered the results the team hoped for. Milwaukee’s defense has slipped from 13th to 18th in the league, and the breakdowns in crunch time are becoming a pattern.
Still, there are some bright spots. Ryan Rollins has emerged as a surprisingly effective secondary scorer, averaging 17.7 points per game during this recent stretch. He’s been a steadying force in a lineup that’s been anything but consistent.
But for a team with championship aspirations, moral victories won’t cut it. The Bucks have the talent. Now it’s about putting it together-and fast.