It was going great for the Detroit Pistons en route to another blowout victory. Everything was trending perfectly. The game was over… pretty much. All of a sudden, things went south. It was a routine defensive play that became something much more gruesome. Players rushed in. The refs jumped between them. People leaned in to try to figure out who the newest casualty was.

Right in the middle of it all? Richaun Holmes and Ausar Thompson. One getting ejected, the other shaking off a hit that had everyone talking.

So what actually went down between Holmes and Thompson? And how did this one moment hijack the entire conversation from what should have been an easy Pistons win?

With just minutes left in the game, things got chippy. Holmes, battling down low, swung his elbow and caught Thompson right in the chin. It was quick, but it was enough for the refs to immediately call a Flagrant 2. No hesitation, no debate—Holmes was done for the night, walking off the court while the crowd reacted to the replay on the big screen.

And unsurprisingly, the conversation quickly changed.

Holmes was one of only Washington’s few bright spots until then. In a game that never came close, he played solid basketball, putting up 14 points and grabbing eight boards. But after that elbow to the chin, his performance wasn’t the main headline. It was all about the ejection and whether it was reckless or plain frustration boiling over.

Interestingly, before all this, Washington was already in trouble. Holmes getting tossed just made it worse, as they had been trailing big for most of the night. Then and there, there was no hope of a late push, even if there had been a sliver of a chance.

Cade Cunningham and the Pistons Stay in Command

Now, while Richaun Holmes’ ejection grabbed all the headlines, let’s be real—the Pistons were in control from the jump. Cade Cunningham? He put on a show. Another night, another dominant performance: 27 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds. He made it look easy, running the offense, picking apart Washington’s defense, keeping the Pistons in complete command.

Jalen Duren? A beast inside. He finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds, doing exactly what Detroit needed. Malik Beasley chipped in 14 points. It was just one of those nights where the Pistons built a lead early and never looked back. By halftime, they were up 66-49. Even when Washington managed to cut it to 99-87 in the fourth, Cunningham stepped in, shut it down, and made sure the win never slipped away.

Even with the way his night ended, you can’t ignore the fact that Richaun Holmes has been an important piece for Washington. He’s been solid off the bench, giving them energy and efficiency in a season where they desperately need any kind of consistency. Just a few nights ago, he dropped 15 points and nine rebounds against the Hornets, showing exactly what he brings when he’s locked in.

And his numbers back it up. This season, Holmes is shooting over 66.4% from the field, averaging 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He’s a reliable, hardworking big man who does his job. But situations like this? They raise questions. Discipline, composure—those are things Washington needs, not moments that put them in an even deeper hole.

Now, the big question: What happens next? The Pistons and Wizards run it back on Thursday, giving Holmes a shot at redemption—assuming he doesn’t get hit with extra disciplinary action from the league. For Detroit, this was just another step in what’s shaping up to be a seriously impressive stretch of basketball. For Washington? Another frustrating night, made even worse by the drama.

Anyway, now, it’s on him—and his team—to make sure this doesn’t become the moment that defines their season.