Ron Holland shines as Pistons cut down winless Nets in NBA Cup opener

Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News on Oct 30, 2026

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NEW YORK — Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has expressed satisfaction with Ron Holland II's performance so far this season. He believes the third-year forward has been making impactful plays through his defense and hustle.

However, Bickerstaff hasn't emphasized his offensive struggles, since the challenges Holland has faced are similar to those the rest of the team faces as they adapt to the new offensive system.

Friday, which marked the start of the NBA's 2026 Emirates NBA Cup tournament, Holland put on a show to help the Pistons take a 110-94 victory over the Brooklyn Nets inside Barclays Center. He led all reserves with 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting, including 2-for-5 shooting from behind the arc.

Holland added four rebounds and a steal. He also led the Pistons during their third-quarter dominance with 12 points, helping Detroit outscore the Nets 36-17.

To improve to 5-1 this season, the Pistons had to overcome another lackluster first quarter in which they looked disjointed. Aside from Cade Cunningham scoring eight points on 3-for-6 shooting, Detroit had a poor start on offense. The rest of the team shot 4 for 13 from the field and 0 for 6 on 3-pointers.

Their subpar start matched the struggles the Pistons have faced over the previous two games, when they averaged 97 points per game, 43.6% shooting, and 35% from behind the arc. They averaged 118.3 points per game on 47.3% shooting during their 3-0 start.

Bickerstaff hasn't been too concerned about their recent offensive struggles. His biggest worry has been the team's slow start on the defensive end, as shown in Brooklyn, which led to a 28-21 lead for the Nets. The Pistons gave up 18 points in the paint during the first period while allowing Brooklyn to shoot 42.9% from the field.

As Bickerstaff always alludes to, the Pistons' offense is triggered by their defense. They picked up their defensive intensity in the second quarter, holding Brooklyn to 14 points on 3-for-14 shooting. As a result, the Pistons scored 35 points in the period to take a 56-49 lead into halftime.

Ausar Thompson closed the second half with a crossover reverse layup, the highlight of his performance of 11 points, six assists and eight rebounds. At the start of the third quarter, Thompson threw a behind-the-back bounce pass to Paul Reed on a fast break, who finished with a right-handed layup. Reed finished with 12 points and four rebounds.

The Pistons' collective effort after a poor first quarter was essential, especially since Cunningham had to play cautiously due to his third personal foul midway through the second quarter. The All-NBA guard led the way with 20 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Emirates NBA Cup illustrates how far the Pistons have come over the past two years. When the tournament began in 2023, the Pistons went 0-4 in group play, matching their 28-game losing streak.

They vividly remember the pain of losing each game, especially the way the Indiana Pacers mocked them during their 136-113 loss in November 2023. While the Pistons haven't reached the knockout round yet, they hold a 5-3 record in group play over the last two seasons. Their success during group play has created momentum that the team has carried into the rest of the season.

After group play, the top eight teams — four from each conference — will compete in single-elimination rounds during the quarterfinals and semifinals. The quarterfinals will occur on Dec. 4 and 5. The semifinals are scheduled for Dec. 9 and 10.

The final two teams — one from each conference — will compete in the Emirates NBA Cup championship on Dec. 11. Unlike the previous three years, the championship game will be held at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the iconic home of Butler University.

Observations and notes

— Getting out and running: The Pistons got out and ran against the Nets. They finished the game with 27 fast-break points. Most of their transition offense came from the Nets' inability to protect the ball. They committed 20 turnovers, which also led to 20 points for Detroit.

— Production from Robinson continues: After a slow start, scoring just two points on 1-for-3 shooting in the first quarter, Duncan Robinson found his rhythm and helped the Pistons find much-needed offense. He scored 10 points in the second quarter and finished with 17.

— Joe still out: Isaiah Joe missed his third straight game with a right hip contusion he sustained against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. Despite his absence, Joe appears to be inching back into the lineup. Before the game against the Nets, Joe participated in his usual pregame warm-up before being ruled out.