The Detroit Pistons fell 121-116 to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night despite the Lakers missing Luka Doncic, the league’s top scorer. Doncic was sidelined with lower-back tightness, but the Pistons struggled to capitalise on his absence at Little Caesars Arena.
Detroit’s offense sputtered early, shooting just 27.3 percent in the first quarter and turning the ball over eight times. The Lakers converted those mistakes into 17 points, building a lead the Pistons never fully closed. Detroit started the game behind and spent much of the night trying to catch up.
Bench players Daniss Jenkins and Kevin Huerter were the bright spots for the Pistons. Jenkins scored 31 points on 8-of-15 shooting from beyond the arc, while Huerter contributed 22 points, five assists, five blocks, and two steals. Their performances kept Detroit competitive as the starters, including Cade Cunningham, struggled for much of the evening.
Cunningham had a season-low 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting with eight assists. He was scoreless in the first half, failing to connect on four shots and finishing the half without a single field goal. The Pistons starters combined for just 14 points on 5-of-24 shooting before halftime, highlighting their offensive woes.
Jenkins was especially effective in the second quarter, scoring 20 points and hitting a buzzer-beating three-pointer to cut the Lakers’ lead. Detroit trimmed a 26-point deficit early in the quarter to 13 by halftime. However, the Lakers maintained control, largely due to Austin Reaves, who stepped up as the lead scorer in Doncic’s absence.
Reaves scored 43 points, including a tough fadeaway midrange shot and a stepback three-pointer in the third quarter that extended the Lakers’ lead to 17 points. His scoring outburst put the Pistons on their heels, forcing them into a difficult chase.
Despite the deficit, the Pistons rallied with a 20-6 run late in the third quarter. A series of stops and transition baskets from Javonte Green, Huerter, and Duncan Robinson brought Detroit within three points, 84-81, with just over a minute remaining in the period. The run showcased Detroit’s resilience even as their starters faltered.
Detroit continued to fight in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to one point multiple times. But Reaves hit a fadeaway three-pointer with 44.5 seconds left to push the Lakers’ lead back to eight points, effectively sealing the game.
Huerter’s all-around performance stood out on a night when the Pistons’ team defense and offense struggled. His five blocks and two steals were career highs, offering a glimpse of the impact he can have on both ends of the floor. The veteran wing signed a three-year, $27 million deal over the offseason after arriving at the trade deadline.
The Pistons drop to 6-3 overall with the loss. They will host the Washington Wizards, who hold a 4-6 record, on Monday, November 9 at 7 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena. The game will be broadcast on TV20 Detroit and WXYT-FM (97.1).
According to Yahoo Sports.
