NBA

New Orleans Pelicans at Detroit Pistons

· National Basketball Association
19-53, 7-30 Away
Final
130 - 136

40-32, 19-16 Home

Holland has big final quarter and scores season-high 26 points to lead Pistons over Pelicans 136-130

Pistons get help with 66 bench points in win over Pelicans

McCollum had 40 points and seven assists, but Holland helped the Pistons outscore the Pelicans 43-39 in the fourth quarter to win for the third time in four games.

Jalen Duren added 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Pistons, who played without All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham because of a calf injury. Marcus Sasser, who like Holland came off the bench, scored 20 points.

Jordan Hawkins made six 3-pointers and scored 25 points for the Pelicans, who put up a much better fight in Detroit than on Monday in New Orleans, when the Pistons routed them 127-81.

Takeaways Pelicans: Even without Zion Williamson, the Pelicans put together a strong offensive performance and with Kelly Olynyk, Jose Alvarado and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl all getting eight assists, it was the first time in Pelicans history they had four players with at least seven.

Pistons: A good start to a three-game homestand saw Detroit pull within a game of Milwaukee for the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Key moment Holland made all five shots while playing all but 2 seconds of the final period.

Key stat Both teams shot 13 for 20 (65%) in the high-scoring fourth quarter.

Up next The Pelicans host Philadelphia on Monday. Detroit hosts San Antonio on Tuesday.

Regular Season Series

DET wins series 2-0

Recent Plays

4th 0.0 End of Game 130 - 136
4th 0.0 End of the 4th Quarter 130 - 136
4th 2.1 Dennis Schroder makes free throw 2 of 2 130 - 136
4th 2.1 Pistons offensive team rebound 130 - 135
4th 2.1 Dennis Schroder misses free throw 1 of 2 130 - 135

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/no.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originNO https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/det.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originDET
49-85 FG 47-86
58 Field Goal % 55
20-40 3PT 13-27
50 Three Point % 48
12-16 FT 29-40
75 Free Throw % 73
37 Rebounds 32
10 Offensive Rebounds 11
27 Defensive Rebounds 21
35 Assists 26
3 Steals 6
5 Blocks 2
17 Turnovers 6
1 Team Turnovers 2
18 Total Turnovers 8
0 Technical Fouls 1
0 Total Technical Fouls 1
1 Flagrant Fouls 0
26 Points Conceded Off Turnovers 13
7 Fast Break Points 16
54 Points in Paint 66
30 Fouls 20
6 Largest Lead 13
Detroit Pistons Detroit Pistons Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Ronald Holland II, F Day-To-Day Dec 23
Isaac Jones, C Day-To-Day Dec 23
New Orleans Pelicans New Orleans Pelicans Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Jordan Poole, G Day-To-Day Dec 23
Herbert Jones, F Day-To-Day Dec 23
Dejounte Murray, G Out Sep 25

Game Information

Little Caesars Arena

Location: Detroit, MI
Attendance: 20,062 · Capacity:

2025-26 Southwest Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
San Antonio 22 7 .759 - W7
Houston 17 10 .630 4 L2
Memphis 14 16 .467 8.5 W1
Dallas 12 19 .387 11 W1
New Orleans 8 23 .258 15 L1

2025-26 Central Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
Detroit 24 6 .800 - W3
Cleveland 17 14 .548 7.5 W2
Chicago 14 15 .483 9.5 W4
Milwaukee 12 18 .400 12 W1
Indiana 6 24 .200 18 L6
Full Standings

NBA News

Steve Kerr laments beef with Draymond Green: 'Not my finest hour'

Steve Kerr laments beef with Draymond Green: 'Not my finest hour'

In a remarkable 15-minute media session Wednesday, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr took responsibility for his argument with Draymond Green that caused the forward to leave the bench in the middle of a game.

Shams: Cam Johnson will miss 'some time' for Nuggets

Shams: Cam Johnson will miss 'some time' for Nuggets

Shams Charania gives an update on Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson's injury.

Anthony Edwards reveals trash talk origin, sets lofty mark for Christmas Day

Anthony Edwards reveals trash talk origin, sets lofty mark for Christmas Day

Shams Charania chats with Anthony Edwards about his trash-talking, the Olympics and the Timberwolves' Christmas Day game.

Sources: Nuggets F Johnson has bone bruise, will miss some time

Sources: Nuggets F Johnson has bone bruise, will miss some time

An MRI shows that Denver Nuggets forward Cam Johnson has a bone bruise in his right knee and is expected to be out for some time, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves talk about their hilarious friendship

Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves talk about their hilarious friendship

Dave McMenamin sits down with Lakers teammates Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to discuss their bromance.