Lakers Fade In Final Seconds Against Pistons As Nine-game Win Streak Ends

DETROIT — The Lakers’ nine-game winning streak ended Monday pinch a 113-100 loss to nan Detroit Pistons aft Luka Doncic missed a game-tying three-pointer astatine nan buzzer.

Doncic had 32 points, 7 rebounds and six assists, but was 3 for 13 from 3 and missed 2 large shots successful nan 4th quarter.

Austin Reaves had 24 points and put nan Lakers up by 1 pinch 29.7 seconds near pinch a driving layup, bullying Daniss Jenkins toward nan handbasket for a beingness bucket. Jenkins sewage revenge by hitting a midrange baseline jumper complete Reaves to put nan Pistons backmost successful beforehand pinch 25 seconds left. In nan back-and-forth 4th quarter, nan Lakers blinked first arsenic Doncic missed a go-ahead jumper pinch 12 seconds left.

Without prima defender Cade Cunningham, who was retired pinch a collapsed lung, Jenkins led nan Pistons (52-19) pinch 30 points and 8 rebounds. Forward Jalen Duren had 20 points and 11 rebounds.

The Lakers (46-26) were shorthanded without Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart. Both cardinal rotation players are day-to-day. Hachimura sewage imaging connected his correct calf and it came backmost clear, coach JJ Redick said, aft he took a deed successful nan limb against Miami connected Thursday. Smart injured his correct ankle Saturday erstwhile an Orlando subordinate fell connected his leg. Smart is besides dealing pinch correct hep soreness from different autumn successful that beingness game.

Smart leads nan Lakers successful wide plus-minus, a quiet cog that connects nan Lakers’ constellation of stars. The Lakers looked disjointed early arsenic LeBron James, Doncic and Reaves mixed connected seven-for-28 shooting successful nan first half. Doncic was scoreless successful nan 2nd 4th arsenic nan Pistons took a 16-point lead. James was held without a constituent successful nan first half for conscionable nan 3rd clip successful his profession and for nan first clip since Dec. 20, 2010.

James didn’t deed first changeable until nan 5:54 people of nan 3rd quarter, draining a 3 from nan wing. James blocked a changeable from Paul Reed connected nan adjacent possession. He past assisted connected a three-pointer from Reaves earlier finishing a layup successful modulation disconnected a bargain by Doncic and an assistance from Reaves.

James’ first made handbasket sparked a 20-6 tally that tied nan crippled precocious successful nan 3rd erstwhile Doncic drained a step-back 3 pinch 33 seconds remaining.

The infinitesimal was short lived. The Pistons scored 20 seconds later connected a dunk from Duren.

Each clip nan Lakers threatened, Detroit answered. A twisting, jumping bounce walk from James to Jarred Vanderbilt for a dunk tied nan crippled 91-91 pinch 8:57 to go, but nan Pistons answered pinch six consecutive points.

Luke Kennard was fouled shooting a 3 pinch 2:30 near and made each 3 free throws to necktie nan score. Tobias Harris past deed a layup connected nan different end.

The leader of nan Lakers’ triumph complete nan Magic connected Saturday, Kennard could person fixed nan Lakers a two-point lead pinch an unfastened three, but it rattled retired pinch 1:20 left. He flailed some arms successful exasperation.