The Detroit Pistons played strong defense to close Monday’s game and defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 113-110.
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Monday’s loss snaps a nine-game winning streak for the Lakers while the Pistons picked up their fourth-straight victory.
As both offenses got off to a slow start, the Lakers remained afloat in the first quarter thanks to the scoring prowess of Luka Doncic. But the second quarter belonged to the Pistons.
Detroit piled on 42 points in the second frame, dwarfing L.A.’s 25 points in the same period.
The Pistons held onto a 16-point lead early in the second half, but a 12-2 Lakers run late in the third quarter brought the game back into reach.
Detroit extended their lead back to seven in the final frame, but another Lakers run allowed them to take a one-point lead with less than a minute to play.
A clutch midrange jumpshot by Dannis Jenkins gave the Pistons the lead with less than 30 seconds to play.
Jenkins went on to knock down two free throws with less than ten seconds to go and give the Pistons a three-point advantage.
For the final shot attempt, Doncic had the ball in his hands, but Jalen Duren played elite defense on the perimeter and forced a bad three-point heave at the buzzer that was way off.
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
