Detroit Pistons Fall 121-116 To Lakers Despite Daniss Jenkins’ 31-Point Career High

While the Detroit Pistons were fresh coming off a three-day layoff, their 121-116 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers unfolded differently than any would have predicted. 

Coming into the game, the Lakers forced the second-most turnovers in the association, and they used that on-ball pressure to force the Pistons into a double-digit deficit in the first quarter. Detroit only managed 14 points in the first frame, which ultimately put the home squad into a hole that they were unable to climb out of despite some stellar bench performances. 

With Jalen Duren and Isaiah Joe still out of the lineup, the Pistons rode a career-high 31-point effort from Daniss Jenkins as they worked to erase what was at one point a 26-point Lakers advantage. Jenkins was responsible for knocking down eight triples on the night, and he supplied a lot of the perimeter scoring that Duncan Robinson usually handles. 

Speaking of Robinson, the veteran sharp-shooter had an off night shooting from the floor, but the same could be said about Cade Cunningham as well. During the first half, Robinson and Cunningham combined for just one point for Detroit, so the team desperately needed that key scoring output off the bench from Jenkins. 

However, DJ wasn’t the only reserve player to work their way into the closing rotation for the Pistons late in the fourth quarter. By that stage, Kevin Huerter was well on his way to another outstanding  performance off the bench with 24 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and five blocks.

After the game, Jenkins confirmed that the Pistons are working to keep Huerter involved more often, and the dynamic point guard mentioned that giving Headband Huerter an opportunity to work from his most comfortable spots on the floor is key for Detroit. Judging by the results, that strategy was effective on Sunday night, but it wasn’t enough to outshine Austin Reaves’ 43-point explosion without Luka Doncic in the lineup. 

On that note, Doncic sat out the cross-conference matchup due to lower back tightness, so the basketball world was robbed of a potentially box office battle between the Lakers scorer and Ausar Thompson. But as it turned out, Los Angeles did not need Doncic’s scoring prowess to topple the Pistons on their home court, which created a rare two-game losing streak for Detroit. 

As for Cade Cunningham, the All-Star point guard had 14 points, four rebounds and eight assists, but he was never able to find the rhythm required to give the Pistons a lead on Sunday night. That type of quiet performance is the exception as opposed to the rule for Cunningham, so look for Detroit’s leader to bounce back tomorrow night against the Washington Wizards in another home contest.