Fueled by Daniss Jenkins, the Detroit Pistons pushed their winning streak to four games with a clutch victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night
Down the stretch of the Detroit Pistons’ narrow 113-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night, second-year point guard Daniss Jenkins entered a mode where it became clear that he’s designed for the bright lights.
With the Lakers making a late charge in the fourth quarter behind Luka Doncic’s 32-point effort, Jenkins made sure to respond in kind each time Los Angeles sank a shot down the stretch. During the final minute of regulation, Jenkins took two separate pressure-filled trips to the free throw line with Detroit just barely in the lead in each situation. And playing with the composure of a veteran, Jenkins drilled all four total free throws to fend off Doncic’s second half surge.
On top of those nervy foul shots, Jenkins hit a clutch step-back mid-range jumper with just over 24 seconds left in the game in response to a massive Austin Reaves runner in the lane on the other end. When the game wrapped up, Jenkins finished with a new career-high scoring effort of 30 points (11-for-18 FGs), four rebounds and eight assists in the Pistons’ three-point victory over the red-hot Lakers.
“My team needs me, that’s all I can say,” Jenkins said after the game. “My team needs me. I thank God every day I wake up, man. I try to do the right thing. I told y’all, I’m with the good, the bad and the ugly, and I’m going to keep trucking every single game. I’m going to keep trying, keep figuring it out. I’m only getting better game-by-game, man. I’m just thankful and grateful.”
Over the last four games, Jenkins has looked more comfortable as Detroit’s starting point guard while Cade Cunningham is out with his collapsed lung, and the speedy spot-starter turned in perhaps the most clutch performance of his young career against Los Angeles tonight.
From a defensive perspective, the Pistons had a difficult task at hand in slowing down both Doncic and LeBron James, but Detroit was more than effective in stifling the latter from a scoring standpoint. James was held scoreless during the first half, but the NBA’s all-time leading scorer had a strong second half to finish the contest with 12 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.
For much of the game, the Pistons deployed Ausar Thompson to guard Doncic and generally harass the league’s leading scorer, and AT served admirably in his role as Detroit’s primary defensive weapon. In the first half, Thompson held Doncic to just 3-for-11 shooting and seven points while he was on the floor. With AT on the bench, the Lakers’ scorer went 2-for-4 for 10 points over the first two quarters of the cross-conference matchup.
Apart from Jenkins’ and Thompson’s pivotal efforts, Jalen Duren continued his general uptick in scoring since the All-Star Break with another 20-point, 11-rebound double-double, which is about on par with his averages for the season. Duren went a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe tonight, and the Pistons needed each and every one of those free throws to secure the win over LA.
Jenkins, who hit four triples on the night, was joined by Duncan Robinson in another strong perimeter shooting exhibition from the veteran sniper. Robinson was also responsible for four three-pointers in the game, which made up the entirety of his 12 points.
Now at 52-19 on the year, the Pistons have a day off before hosting the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, March 25 at 7 pm.
For more information on the latest Detroit Pistons team or player news, follow @EricJRutter on X for continued basketball coverage. Also be sure to look up Roundtable - Michigan Men Media on Facebook for continued social media coverage of all the sporting teams in the Mitten.