Luka Dončić had a shot at keeping the Los Angeles Lakers’ nine-game win streak alive Monday night. But it wasn’t a very good one, and the Detroit Pistons held on for a 113-110 win to top the Lakers in an interconference battle of two of the NBA’s best teams.
Jalen Duren smothers Luka’s late heave
The Pistons led by three with nine seconds remaining, and the Lakers had an inbounds play in the frontcourt. The Pistons deflected LeBron James’ entry pass, and Dončić scrambled to recover it near the logo.
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By the time Dončić gained control of the ball, Jalen Duren was defending him beyond the 3-point line. Dončić worked to gain a clear look at the basket from the left wing. But Duren remained draped on him, and Dončić was forced to settle for a turnaround heave with Duren’s hands in his face.
It didn’t stand a chance and fell well short of the rim as time expired on Detroit’s 3-point win.
Duren was asked after the game about what he was thinking before making the late stop.
Lakers battling in crowded West
For the Lakers, the loss snaps a nine-game win streak that included victories against the Timberwolves, Nuggets and twice vs. the Rockets, enabling L.A. to move into third place in a crowded Western Conference playoff race.
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The Lakers remain in third place at 46-26 with a two-game lead over each of the Nuggets, Rockets and Timberwolves, who sat virtually tied in the standings in fourth through sixth place at the time of the Lakers’ loss. The race for seeding and home-court advantage behind the first-place Thunder and second-place Spurs in the West projects as one of the mostly hotly contested for the stretch run of the regular season.
With the win, the Pistons remain comfortably in control of first place in the East at 52-19, five games ahead of the Celtics and 5.5 games ahead of the Knicks. But with All-Star Cade Cunningham sidelined indefinitely with a collapsed lung, the Pistons need as much cushion as they can get with 11 games remaining in their regular season.
LeBron James and Luka Dončić walk off the floor in defeat to the Detroit Pistons.
(Nic Antaya via Getty Images)
Daniss Jenkins continues to excel in place of Cunningham
Daniss Jenkins again stepped up in Cunningham’s absence as his replacement in the starting lineup, leading the Pistons with 30 points and eight assists while shooting 11 of 18 from the floor and 4 of 5 from 3. Jenkins previously posted 22 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds in a win over the Warriors on Friday night.
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Duren added 20 points, 11 rebounds and the game-securing stop of Dončić that won’t go down in the box score.
Dončić led the Lakers with 32 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. But he struggled with efficiency against the NBA’s No. 2 team in defensive rating while shooting 11 of 29 from the field and 3 of 13 from 3.
Austin Reaves posted 24 points and 5 assists, and James fell just short of a triple-double with 12 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds.
The Lakers will conclude a six-game road swing against the Pacers on Wednesday before returning to Los Angeles for a three-game home stint. The Pistons have upcoming home games against the Hawks and Pelicans on Wednesday and Thursday night.