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.
A big two-way performance by Isaiah Stewart, and a clutch performance by Cade Cunningham delivered a Detroit Pistons win in Memphis.
The Pistons defeated the Memphis Grizzlies on the road, 114-106, and improved to 5-2 overall. They got a season-high 33 points from Cunningham, who scored 19 in the final period to go with eight assists.
Isaiah Stewart added season-highs in points (26), rebounds (14) and tied his season-high in blocks (four). Stewart started in place of Tobias Harris, who missed the game with a right ankle sprain.
Jalen Duren (14 points, nine rebounds), Ron Holland II (14 points) and Duncan Robinson (11 points) also reached double figures. Michigan State alumnus Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 21 points. Detroit held the Grizzlies to 40.2% overall shooting and forced 20 turnovers, off of which they scored 33 points.
The Pistons controlled most of the first three quarters and led by 21 points, 81-60, with 3:59 remaining in the third after a 3-pointer from Duncan Robinson. A 12-0 Grizzlies run cut their lead back to single digits entering the final period, though, setting up a close finish before Cunningham took over the game late.
Cunningham’s his 3-pointer with 6:30 to play in the game extended the lead back to 13, 99-86. But the Grizzlies pulled within three points, 103-100, at the 3:09 mark after a 3-pointer from rookie Cedric Coward and 3-point play from Jackson.
From there, Cunningham closed the win out almost single-handedly. A pair of free throws, followed by an interior finish, gave the Pistons a seven-point cushion before Jock Landale responded with a 3-pointer on the other end. Cunningham then knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers in the final 1:05, pushing the lead to 112-103 with 37.5 seconds to go.
“He’s a bad man, and that’s it,” J.B. Bickerstaff said of Cunningham after the win. “When it’s winning team, you’ve gotta have a guy like that on your team and we are extremely fortunate to have him because there’s not a play the he can’t make and there’s the courage in his bones to take those shots and make those shots.
“Nineteen points in a quarter to close the game out for us separated the game for us down the stretch.”
Stewart leads Pistons with two-way effortÂ
Entering Monday’s game, the Pistons were tied with the Philadelphia 76ers as the league leader in blocks per game, with seven. Stewart, who has made his case as one of the top defenders at his position through the first two weeks of the season, continued his bid as one of the NBA’s best shot-blockers against the Grizzlies.Â
After averaging a career-high 1.4 blocks per game last season, Stewart has 15 blocks through seven games this season — more than two per game. He spearheaded a strong defensive night for the Pistons with his second game this season with at least three blocks, including two big ones on Jock Landale and Jaylen Wells at the rim.Â
Stewart’s offense was just as important Monday. The Grizzlies intentionally left him open from behind-the-arc, leading to him taking a season-high seven attempts from 3. But he did most of his damage in the paint, punishing the Grizzlies’ shorthanded frontcourt with his offensive rebounding and finishing.Â
A tip-in with 8:47 left in the final period extended the Pistons lead to double-digits, 92-81. It was Stewart’s second game this season with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, initially accomplishing the feat against the Chicago Bulls on opening night. The coaching staff has given him the green light to shoot, and he’s been a viable threat from deep while maintaining his presence at the rim.
“It’s his heart. It’s his courage. It’s his determination. It’s his grit. It’s his love of the Detroit Pistons, the city of Detroit,” Bickerstaff said. “He plays for them, he plays for his teammates and he was undeniable tonight.”
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on XÂ @omarisankofa.
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