Malik Beasley scored 21 points and Cade Cunningham contributed 20 points and 10 assists as the Detroit Pistons defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 117-114 on Monday night, completing a season sweep of the series.
LeBron James recorded his 120th career triple-double, finishing with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. However, he missed a crucial 3-point attempt just before the buzzer. This season, only Nikola Jokic (11) has more triple-doubles than the 39-year-old James, who has eight.
Jaden Ivey added 18 points for the Pistons, who secured back-to-back victories for the first time since November 17, having also beaten the Phoenix Suns recently. This win marked Detroit’s first victory in Los Angeles since 2017, ending a seven-game road losing streak against the Lakers.
The Pistons held a 117-106 lead with 2.5 minutes remaining, but the Lakers responded with an 8-0 run, capped by James’ driving layup with 46 seconds left. After a foul call was overturned by video review with 28.9 seconds on the clock, Cunningham missed a 3-pointer, and James subsequently missed an open 30-footer.
Anthony Davis contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers.
Takeaways:
Pistons: Despite ongoing development, the young Pistons have recently defeated notable teams such as New York, Miami, Phoenix, and the Lakers this month. Their energy on the big stage in Los Angeles was evident.
Lakers: The team’s 20 turnovers highlighted a lack of focus, while allowing 117 points underscored their defensive struggles.
Key Moment:
Detroit ignited a 16-4 run early in the fourth quarter, led by Ivey and Beasley, which helped them pull ahead decisively.
Key Stat:
James made his 847th 3-pointer for the Lakers, surpassing Derek Fisher for the second-most in franchise history. Only Kobe Bryant (1,827) has more.
Upcoming Games:
The Lakers will visit the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day, while the Pistons are set to face the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.
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