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What impact is Ron Holland making for Detroit Pistons?

Free Press Sports columnist Shawn Windsor break down the influence Ron Holland is making on the Detroit Pistons.

The Detroit Pistons battled two foes in Mexico City — the Dallas Mavericks, and the altitude.

Both teams were visibly worn down by the final period, but the Pistons prevailed with a 122-110 win. Big performances from Jalen Duren (a career-high 33 points plus 10 rebounds) and Cade Cunningham (21 points, 18 assists, three steals) lifted the Pistons over a banged-up Mavs team missing Anthony Davis.

They outscored the Mavericks, 35-17, in the fourth quarter while holding them to 4-for-16 shooting. In the second half, the Pistons (4-2) shot 52.3% (23-for-44) and dominated the paint, outscoring Dallas, 72-26, down low. After a shaky defensive start, the Pistons eventually settled in and controlled the game with their physicality and energy.

SOUTH OF THE BORDER: Pistons are going to Mexico — and taking 5 local influencers with them

Jalen Duren stays aggressive, feasts inside

Early on, it appeared the fourth-year center might dunk the Mavericks into submission. He led all scorers with 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting in the opening period — four off alley-oop passes, and the fifth courtesy of an assist from Cunningham after Duren cut into open space under the rim. 

Even Isaiah Stewart got in on the lob action, saving the ball from a backcourt violation before tossing one up for Duren’s fifth score of the quarter. He continued his dominance throughout the night, punishing Dallas with putback dunks and alley-oops and showcasing his pick-and-roll chemistry with Cunningham. 

A post hook 3-point play from Duren extended an 11-0 Pistons run in the second quarter that gave them the lead, 40-31. Midway through the final period, Duren had a putback slam on a missed transition layup attempt by Thompson. With 3:20 remaining, Cunningham found a rolling Duren for yet another dunk to extend their lead to five, 111-106, and hit the game-icing free throws with 1:10 to go, extending their lead to 19.

Duren has scored at least 20 points in three of the Pistons’ six games this season. He had a total of four games with at least 20 points all of last season. He’s responding to a challenge issued to him from the coaching staff this summer — playing with more aggressiveness — and has been a go-to option early in the season.

Duncan Robinson picks up play

After going 0-for-5 in the Pistons’ season-opening loss against the Chicago Bulls, the Michigan alumnus has looked more like himself.

Robinson scored 18 points in the Pistons’ win in Mexico, making three of six 3-pointers. Since the opener, Robinson has knocked down 15 of 32 attempts — 46.9%.

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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X @omarisankofa. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter.

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