Detroit emerged victorious against the Los Angeles Lakers with a final score of 115-103 on Monday night, fueled by an impressive performance from Cade Cunningham. Cunningham recorded his third career triple-double, contributing 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists to the team’s effort.
Jaden Ivey matched his season-high by scoring 26 points, while Tim Hardaway Jr. added 19. Tobias Harris chipped in 15 points, and Jalen Duren had a notable game with 11 points and 14 rebounds. On the other side, the Lakers’ Anthony Davis shone brightly with a remarkable 37 points. LeBron James supported his teammate by filling the stat sheet with 20 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds. Davis did experience a left ankle injury late in the game but managed to stay on the court for the remainder.
Austin Reaves also played a vital role in the Lakers’ offense, managing to score 17 points on 7-of-17 shooting. Detroit started strong, gaining a 33-22 lead by the end of the first quarter, and they continued to maintain their advantage throughout the night.
Looking at the Lakers’ performance, it’s worth noting that Davis is experiencing what could be considered the best start to his career thus far. Coming into the game, he was leading the league with an average of 31.8 points per game and quickly proved his scoring prowess by netting nine points in both the first and second quarters. He finished the game shooting 13 of 23 from the floor while also grabbing nine rebounds, indicating his dominance in the paint. Just hours before tip-off, Davis was one of the few Lakers players working on his shooting technique.
On the Pistons’ side, after ranking as the team with the most losses over the past two seasons, they are beginning to display improvement under the guidance of first-year head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. With three victories already, they have reached a milestone they did not achieve until the end of December last season. Detroit has experienced success in three of their last four games, something they only accomplished once the previous season, during a brief stretch in March.
A key moment in the contest occurred when Ivey, assisted by Cunningham, sank a crucial 3-pointer followed by a jumper late in the game, effectively securing the win for Detroit. Statistically, the Pistons excelled in rebounding, dominating Los Angeles with a 55-37 advantage and outscoring them in second-chance points 22-13.
Looking ahead, the Lakers will conclude their five-game road trip on Wednesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, while the Pistons are set to face off against the Charlotte Hornets on the same night.