LOS ANGELES — Malik Beasley contributed 21 points, while Cade Cunningham recorded 20 points alongside 10 assists, leading the Detroit Pistons to a narrow victory over the Los Angeles Lakers with a final score of 117-114 on Monday night. This victory marked a clean sweep for Detroit in their season series against Los Angeles.
LeBron James showcased his skills with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, achieving the 120th triple-double of his illustrious career. However, he was unable to secure a win as his last-second three-point shot missed the mark. This season, only Nikola Jokic has more triple-doubles than James, with the Lakers’ star sitting at eight.
Adding to Detroit’s efforts, Jaden Ivey stepped up with 18 points. This win against the Lakers, following their recent victory over the Phoenix Suns, marked the Pistons’ first back-to-back wins since November 17, a notable feat considering it was only their third such accomplishment this entire season. Furthermore, this was significant for the Pistons, as they had previously struggled on the road against the Lakers, having lost seven consecutive games in Los Angeles since 2017.
At one point, Detroit held a solid 117-106 lead with just over two minutes remaining. However, the Lakers rallied back, scoring eight consecutive points, with James converting a driving layup with 46 seconds left on the clock. Following a successful video review that overturned a foul call against Detroit, Cunningham missed a three-pointer, leaving James to attempt a game-tying 30-footer that ultimately failed.
Anthony Davis added 19 points and secured 10 rebounds for the Lakers, contributing to a strong overall team effort despite the loss.
Key takeaways from the game included the fact that while the Pistons still have room for improvement, they have recently triumphed over competitive teams such as New York, Miami, Phoenix, and the Lakers. The young Pistons team was energized playing on such a prominent stage in Los Angeles, demonstrating their potential.
On the other hand, the Lakers’ 20 turnovers underscored their struggles with maintaining focus and discipline during the game, while the Pistons’ ability to score 117 points highlighted the Lakers’ defensive lapses.
A crucial moment came in the fourth quarter when Detroit unleashed a 16-4 scoring run, fueled predominantly by Ivey and Beasley, which allowed them to stretch their lead.
In terms of individual achievements, LeBron James made history by hitting his 847th three-pointer for the Lakers, moving past Derek Fisher for the second-most in the franchise’s history, with only Kobe Bryant ahead at 1,827.
Looking ahead, the Lakers are set to visit the Warriors on Christmas Day, while the Pistons will head to Sacramento for their next game on Thursday.
