After three losses in a row, the Los Angeles Lakers have once again won and narrowly defeated the Detroit Pistons. A red-hot Bojan Bogdanovic kept the hosts in the game until the final minute, after LeBron James and Anthony Davis had led the Lakers.
Detroit Pistons (7-22) – Los Angeles Lakers (11-15) 117:124 (BOXSCORE)
The Pistons came back after the break with a 41-30 quarterback after being up to 14 points behind. But it shouldn’t be enough for the surprise. After Detroit had fought their way up to 2 points, Austin Reaves sank the decisive three point in the final minute on a pass from LeBron James (35, 14/24 FG). Together with Anthony Davis (34, 12/18 FG, 15 rebounds), he had previously led the Lakers, who otherwise received good production from Lonnie Walker IV (18, 7/10 FG). Russell Westbrook scraped past a double-double (11 and 9) while Dennis Schröder (5, 2/5 FG) was pale.
Bogdanovic caused a stir with the Pistons. He scored 25 of his 38 points in the third quarter, including 6 of 12 from long range (plus/minus +8). Otherwise, Jaden Ivey (16), Saddiq Bey (14, Alec Burks (11) and Marvin Bagley (10) achieved double digits. Despite Bogdanovic, Detroit (37.8 percent) could not keep up with the Lakers’ three-point quota (42.3 ), for which Reaves scored 3/5 and Walker 4/6, plus 12 points down in the zone (40-52).
James (ankle) and Davis (back) got fit in time for the Lakers, and they started again with a three-guard lineup around Schröder, Walker and Patrick Beverley. The start was successful, three of the first four threes found their target, Walker IV scored 8 of the first 13 Lakers points, which enabled an 8-point lead. Schröder and LeBron also scored from a distance, but Detroit fought its way into the game thanks to better shooting and was “only” 6 points behind after the first quarter.
Lakers have to tremble – Reaves makes the decision
James scored the first 10! Lakers points in the second round, AD followed up with a three-point game. The two best players were on the side of the home side – and that made itself felt. Jaden Ivey showed offensive good approaches and on the other hand, Schröder cleaned up properlyReaves posted to +12 just before Downtown’s halftime buzzer.
Walker sank his third three, Davis cracked the 20-point mark early on, Westbrook put AD in the limelight, but the Lakers weren’t really comfortable. Bogdanovic ran hot from a distance, within a few minutes he scored five times! (25 points in Q3!). After a three by Corey Joseph, already the 14th for the guests, it was only 3 points behind. 4 Davis points still gave the guests a mini lead before the final quarter. 91:90 Lakers.
Even with Bogdanovic on the bench, the threes fell for Detroit, then just by Bey (2x). With Walker and Austin Reaves also hot, the Lakers lead continued to hold. After several tickets from the middle distance, James managed a three-point game, followed later by a difficult fadeaway. It was the old game, with the Pistons staying so close that the Lakers couldn’t fully relax, this time with an and-one from Ivey. After two missed threes, the Pistons grabbed the offensive rebound, after Bogdanovic’s layup they were only 2 points behind with 30 seconds to go. Reaves sank the three from the corner in the following attack and secured the win.
NBA: Die Stats-Leader bei Pistons vs. Lakers
| Category | Pistons | Lakers |
| Points | Bojan Bogdanovic (38) | LeBron James (35) |
| Rebounds | Jalen Duren (13) | Anthony Davis (15) |
| Assists | Killian Hayes (9) | Russell Westbrook (9) |
| Steals | Saddiq Bey, Cory Joseph (2) | Anthony Davis, Patrick Beverley (2) |
| Blocks | three players (1) | Thomas Bryant (2) |