Monday NBA Notes: Holland Ignites Pistons, Bucks Drop Another, Pacers Sign Thompson
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Pistons
Detroit plugged its short-handed rotation on Monday by turning to rookie Ron Holland, who delivered 17 points, six rebounds and two steals in 17 minutes off the bench. His burst helped the Pistons edge Atlanta, 99-98.
“He was the spark for us,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said, according to the Detroit Free Press. “We struggled tonight. I thought Ron gave us a ton of energy. He was phenomenal.”
Holland said the chance to observe the opening minutes guides his approach when he checks in. “Coming off the bench allows me to slow the game down,” he noted. “There are going to be nights we start slow. That is what the bench mob is for. We bring that spark.”
Detroit continues to rank among the league leaders in deflections, loose balls recovered and contested shots.
Bucks
Milwaukee’s night unraveled in the fourth quarter as Washington rallied to win, 129-126, dropping the Bucks to 9-13. A 16-point third-quarter lead evaporated during a 24-8 Wizards run capped by key baskets from former Buck Khris Middleton and CJ McCollum.
“You let a team like that get close, they’ll beat you,” head coach Doc Rivers said, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “If it gets to a four-minute game they have two players in Middleton and McCollum that know how to play.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s recent absence has contributed to the slide, and the club’s defense has slipped from 13th to 18th despite pairing Antetokounmpo with newly acquired center Myles Turner. One positive has been guard Ryan Rollins, averaging 17.7 points as an unexpected secondary scorer.
Pacers
Indiana finalized a two-way contract with guard Ethan Thompson that runs through the end of the 2025-26 season, according to Hoops Rumors. If Thompson completes the deal, he will not reach free agency until the summer of 2027.
Source: Hoops Wire
