The Los Angeles Lakers' nine-game winning streak is what made the headlines. But Monday night in Detroit might have told us even more about the long-term trajectory of this team.
The Lakers trailed by as many as 16, clawed back with a 20-8 run to tie it late in the third, and took the lead with 30 seconds left before Daniss Jenkins closed it out. They lost by three on the road without some key players against one of the better defenses in the league.
JJ Redick walked out of Little Caesars Arena with his read on this team completely intact. "We're a good basketball team," Redick said. "I believed that the entire season. We saw flashes of it, we saw short stretches of it, but we're a good basketball team, and we have to continue to play together."
A nine-game winning streak is easy to believe in. A team that claws back from 16 down on the road, shorthanded, and still nearly steals it in the final seconds is even harder to dismiss.
Mar 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons Daniss Jenkins (24) moves the ball up court next to Los Angeles Lakers Jarred Vanderbilt (2) during the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn ImagesBend But Don't Break
Redick talked before the game about growth, specifically the ability to bend without breaking. The second quarter tested that message almost immediately.
Detroit hit back-to-back threes while the Lakers were struggling to score, the deficit grew, and the road crowd got loud. His team never gave in. "Those are the moments where, on the road, when you're not scoring and they have one of the best defenses in the NBA, it can feel defeating. We never gave into that."
LeBron went scoreless in the first half but finished with 12 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, making his biggest plays when the game was closest. Redick noted that LeBron missed a couple of early plays in transition but found his footing as the fourth quarter tightened.
At the end, LA ran a designed inbounds play to get Luke Kennard a clean look. The pass got deflected. Luka Doncic, who finished with 32 points, missed a tough three at the buzzer and the streak was over. But the effort that produced it wasn't.
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Redick was careful not to use injuries as a crutch, but he was honest about what they mean heading into April.
"Our winning streak also coincided with us being healthy. Not having Smart tonight killed us. It's important that we can get healthy and play our rotation. Post-trade deadline, when all nine guys have played, we've been a good basketball team."
Smart missed Monday with an ankle injury and Hachimura was out as well, two rotation pieces the Lakers have built their defensive identity around. Redick singled out Jarred Vanderbilt as someone who was ready when his number was called, but acknowledged the difference those absences made down the stretch.
Los Angeles sits at 46-26 with 10 games remaining, third in the Western Conference and firmly in the mix for a deep playoff run. The winning streak confirmed what the roster is capable of. Monday night confirmed they can compete even when it isn't easy, which in the playoffs, it never is.