Lakers’ LeBron James Sends Blunt Message After Win Streak Snapped

The Los Angeles Lakers had won nine straight. They had climbed to third in the Western Conference. Monday night in Detroit, the Pistons made sure it stopped there.

Daniss Jenkins scored six straight points down the stretch as part of a career-high 30 to help Detroit hold on for a 113-110 victory, snapping the Lakers’ streak with one stop left on the road trip.

How the Streak Came to an End

The Lakers trailed for most of the night and found themselves down 16 in the third quarter before LeBron James and Austin Reaves started cooking. The two combined for 21 points in the third quarter alone, dragging Los Angeles back into a game that had looked beyond them.

They eventually tied it. They briefly grabbed the lead on free throws from Deandre Ayton with 1:56 remaining. The final minute was chaotic, the lead changing hands multiple times before Jenkins sealed it from the free throw line with nine seconds left.

Out of the final timeout, LeBron’s inbound pass was tipped by Tobias Harris. The ball bounced loose before Luka Doncic recovered it, but Jalen Duren closed hard and forced a contested deep three that came up well short. Ballgame.

Doncic finished with 32 points on 29 attempts. LeBron was held scoreless in the first half for the first time since 2010, though a big second half saw him finish with 12 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists. Reaves added 24 points with five assists. The effort was there. The shots were not always.

“We were down and then battled our way back,” Reaves said. “We did some really good things and there are some things we need to clean up.”

What LeBron Said After the Loss

James was not looking for excuses. The Lakers were without Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura due to minor injuries. The Pistons, still missing Cade Cunningham with a collapsed lung, were the shorter-handed team on paper. None of that changed the result.

What James focused on was what this group is built on.

“Just our mental toughness,” James said. “We’re a tough-minded group.”

It was a measured response from someone who understands that one loss does not derail a season. The Lakers are still third in the West with 10 games remaining. The bigger picture has not changed much. The streak is gone but the standing is intact.

“It’s the last game of the road trip,” James said. “We got business to take care of.”

What Comes Next for the Lakers

Wednesday brings a trip to Indiana to face the Pacers. It is the final stop on the road trip and a chance to close it out on a winning note before heading home.

The Pistons deserve credit. Jenkins was sensational, and Detroit’s defense made life difficult for a Lakers offense that turned the ball over 12 times. Duncan Robinson knocked down multiple triples off the bench. It was a complete performance from a young Pistons team that has been playing with confidence.

Los Angeles outscored Detroit 58-48 in the paint and put up 16 fast break points. On another night, that is enough to win. Monday it was not.

Final Word for the Lakers

Nine games. The streak is over. LeBron called them a tough-minded group and pointed straight to Wednesday night in Indiana.

That is the right response. One road loss to a shorthanded Pistons team does not change what this Lakers team has built over the past few weeks. The third seed is still theirs. The roster is mostly intact, and the urgency has not gone anywhere.

Business to take care of. Wednesday in Indiana.

Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins