NBA news: Los Angeles Lakers momentum halted after Detroit Pistons defeat

The Detroit Pistons overcame the Los Angeles Lakers 110-113 on Tuesday, March 24, bringing JJ Redick’s team’s nine-game win streak to an abrupt end. 

Point guard Daniss Jenkins led the Pistons with 30 points and was 11-18 from the field – leaving the game with a 61% shooting efficiency.

For the Lakers, Luka Doncic starred again with 32-7-6, continuing his red-hot form; however, with his three-ball not hitting on the day, the Lakers struggled to convert key plays down the stretch. 

The Pistons were without star player Cade Cunningham due to a collapsed lung, yet the side still managed to pull out a team performance and win – a testament to their overall growth this season.

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Smart’s absence felt

“Not having Smart tonight killed us,” Redick said of veteran Marcus Smart’s absence, who did not feature in the game due to right-ankle soreness.

“The way our team works, you need Smart for his ball-handling. You need Smart for his defense.”

Lakers guard Austin Reaves echoed this sentiment, saying, “Marcus is a huge glue guy for us, as everybody knows.”

“The way he plays, unselfish, guards every team’s best player, that’s what he does. When you don’t have that, it sucks.”

Smart’s efforts are not represented through stat lines, but through his willingness as an on-ball and overall defender, along with his clutch three-point shooting ability late in games.

The Lakers sit at a 117.7 defensive rating when he’s not on the court and a 110.9 rating when he features.

J.B. Bickerstaff: ‘I’m no longer surprised’

Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff hailed young guard Jenkins’ performance but said that he is “no longer surprised” with the level he can produce. 

“When he has the opportunity, he has delivered for us,” Bickerstaff said. “Whether it’s throughout the game or in clutch moments, he finds a way to impact winning.

“I thought, again, he made huge plays down the stretch, made his free throws. So, he deserves a lot of credit tonight.”

The Pistons remain first in the East and play the sixth-seed Atlanta Hawks next on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Lakers face the Indiana Pacers away on the same day, looking to revive their recent winning run and treat the loss to the Pistons as a slight blip.

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