Lakers’ Nine-Game Winning Streak Snapped by Pistons in Final Seconds
The Lakers’ nine-game winning streak ended in the final seconds against the Detroit Pistons Monday night. Detroit beat Los Angeles 113-110 in a game decided at the buzzer. The loss halted the Lakers’ longest surge since the 2019-20 title season.
How the game finished
The decisive play came after an inbounds pass by LeBron James was deflected by Tobias Harris. The ball glanced off Maxi Kleber’s arm before Luka Doncic recovered and rose for a desperate, game-tying three. The shot missed, and Detroit celebrated a last-second victory.
Crunch-time sequence
With nine seconds remaining, James tried to hit Doncic across the court. The deflection forced Doncic into a hurried possession and a high-arcing attempt he could not convert. Earlier, Doncic had also missed a go-ahead jumper with 12 seconds left.
Key performances
Doncic led the Lakers with 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists. He struggled from deep, going three for 13 on three-pointers. He had averaged 40 points across the previous nine games.
Austin Reaves added 24 points for Los Angeles. Reaves drove for a layup that put the Lakers ahead with 29.7 seconds remaining. Detroit’s Daniss Jenkins answered with a midrange baseline jumper 4.7 seconds later to reclaim the lead.
- LeBron James: 12 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds.
- Jalen Duren (Detroit): 20 points, 11 rebounds.
- Daniss Jenkins: 30 points, eight assists; led Detroit in Cunningham’s absence.
Game flow and turning points
Detroit built a 14-point lead in the third quarter. The Lakers rallied in the third after James hit his first shot of the night. That three-pointer triggered a 20-6 run for Los Angeles.
Los Angeles entered the game having won multiple late-game battles. They had won five consecutive clutch-time contests prior to this loss. The streak-ending defeat highlighted how small margins decided the contest.
Injuries and roster notes
The Lakers were missing Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart. Both are listed day-to-day. Hachimura underwent imaging on his right calf, which was reported clear.
Smart suffered a right ankle injury when an Orlando player fell on him. He also has right hip soreness. Coach JJ Redick said Smart’s absence “killed us” in terms of cohesion and defensive impact.
Context and outlook
The loss dropped the Lakers to 46-26. Their winning streak had lifted them from sixth to third in the Western Conference. Redick said he always believed the roster could be a strong team when healthy.
Los Angeles will aim to carry the momentum from the nine-game run into the final 10 games. James stressed the group’s resilience and toughness after the setback.
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