Ausar Thompson benched for Ron Holland in Pistons loss to Spurs
· Yahoo Sports
Ausar Thompson played just under 18 minutes Monday night in the Detroit Pistons' 114-103 loss to the San Antonio Spurs at Little Caesars Arena.
He played the first 3:46 to start the second half, grabbing three defensive rebounds and missing one shot, then never re-entered the game. The Spurs led 63-62 at the time Thompson was pulled.
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Ron Holland took Thompson's spot, playing 26 minutes and bringing the Pistons to life in the first quarter with his energy and nine quick points to overcome a 14-2 deficit.
Holland finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds, though he shot 5-for-13 and just 1-for-6 from 3-point range, part of the team's worst 3-point shooting mark of the season (19.4%, 7-for-36).
Asked whether Thompson was healthy or if there was some other reason he didn't see the court much, Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said there was no injury.
"I thought Ron played well tonight," Bickerstaff said after the Pistons' five-game win streak was stopped.
Thompson finished with eight points on 4-for-6 shooting, including knocking down a midrange jumper, and had four rebounds, two assists, two turnovers and two fouls. He averages 26 minutes per game this season.
Thompson, 23, was named the NBA Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month for January, and is widely thought to be the team's third-most important player in the present and future, behind Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.
Thompson will get a chance to earn more playing time Wednesday when the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder visit Little Caesars Arena.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ausar Thompson benched for Ron Holland in Pistons loss to Spurs