Lakers’ 9-Game Win Streak Ends in 113-110 Loss to Pistons
Detroit – The Los Angeles Lakers’ nine-game winning streak, their longest in six seasons, ended Monday night with a 113-110 loss to the Detroit Pistons, punctuated by a missed three-point attempt at the buzzer from Lakers guard Luka Dončić.
The defeat came after a frantic final sequence. With nine seconds remaining, a LeBron James inbounds pass intended for Dončić was deflected by Pistons forward Tobias Harris, forcing Dončić to scramble for the loose ball. After regaining possession, Dončić faced tight defense from Jalen Duren before launching a contested three-pointer that failed to hit the rim, according to reports from the scene.
Dončić finished with 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists, but struggled from beyond the arc, shooting three-for-13 on three-point attempts. The loss snapped a remarkable stretch for the superstar, who had averaged 40 points per game during the Lakers’ winning run.
Despite the setback, the Lakers remain in third place in the Western Conference with a record of 46-26. Coach JJ Redick emphasized the team’s progress throughout the season. “I thought we could be a good basketball team the entire season,” Redick said. “We saw flashes of it. We saw short stretches of it, but we’re a good basketball team, and I reckon we have to continue to play together.”
The Pistons, led by Daniss Jenkins’ career-high 30 points, overcame a strong performance from Lakers guard Austin Reaves, who scored 24 points. Jenkins scored six points in the final 34 seconds, including a travel-ahead jumper with 25 seconds left. Jalen Duren contributed 20 points and 10 rebounds for Detroit, which has now won four consecutive games and seven of their last eight.
The game saw a sluggish start for LeBron James, who failed to score in the first half for only the third time in his career. He finished with 12 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds. Redick noted James’ impact extended beyond scoring, stating, “I thought he did a good job of not just trying to score, but make the right play like he always does.”
The Lakers faced challenges with injuries, playing without Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart. Hachimura underwent imaging on his right calf, which revealed no issues, according to Redick, after sustaining a hit during Thursday’s game against Miami. Smart injured his right ankle Saturday against Orlando when a player landed on his leg, and is also experiencing soreness in his right hip. Redick described Smart’s absence as detrimental, saying it “killed us.”
The Pistons’ victory came without star guard Cade Cunningham, who is sidelined with a collapsed lung. The Lakers will next face the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, while the Pistons will host the Atlanta Hawks on the same day.