The Los Angeles Lakers fell to their third loss of the season against the Detroit Pistons, losing 103-115 on the road in a game many expected the Lakers to win handily. The Pistons ran out to a 20-point lead early in the game, forcing the Lakers to play catch-up basketball the entire way through as they slumped to the loss.
The Lakers did cut the lead down to six points in the fourth quarter but couldn’t close it out. Anthony Davis put up another incredible individual performance with 37 points and nine rebounds, although it went to waste. Even LeBron James had a solid outing with 20 points, eight rebounds, and 11 assists. Austin Reaves put up 17 points, but the Lakers got just 10 total points from their bench while starters like Rui Hachimura (8 PTS, 2-6 FG) and D’Angelo Russell (11 PTS, 4-14 FG) struggled.
Fans weren’t happy with how the game played out.
“The Lakers bench is so bad that, if this were the 1970s, JJ would have made himself a player-coach already,” said Bill Simmons after the Lakers rotation struggled to perform well enough.
“LeBron’s Lakers just failed to show up and lost at Detroit by 12. Crushed on the boards, 55-37. Pistons: 17 offensive boards. Just inexcusable. Hey, JJ, gotta light a fire under your squad,” said Skip Bayless, deeming the loss inexcusable.
“Lakers getting belted by the pistons I’m out,” said one fan who was hurt after watching the shock loss.
“Pistons scored inside like all of them were Shaq, Duncan, and any other great you can think of who made layups all day. Lakers didn’t care at all, I would honestly fire all of them if they worked for me… All of them,” said one very disappointed fan.
“First time LeBron really looking like he aging fr fr,” said one fan noticing LeBron struggle to be as impactful on games as we know he can.
“Cade and Ivey cooked Reaves and DLO for 4 straight quarters,” said one fan crediting the young Pistons backcourt’s performance.
“That’s the leadership I need to see from Cade Cunningham. He’s made the correct decision basically the entire 4th quarter,” said one fan wanting Cade Cunningham’s fourth quarter brilliance to be recognized.
The Pistons were led to this win by Cade Cunningham’s 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists and Jaden Ivey’s 26 points, including a clutch fourth-quarter three that put the Lakers away. Ivey was also a team-high +20 in the win. Veteran summer additions Tim Hardaway Jr. (19 PTS, 7-12 FG) and Tobias Harris (15 PTS, 7 REB, 7-15 FG) also had good games to help the Pistons pull this incredible win off.
The Lakers will hope to rebound in their next game against the Memphis Grizzlies on the road on Wednesday, while the Pistons get ready for a road test against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.
