The Lakers (46-25) look to extend their winning streak to double digits on Monday against the Detroit Pistons (51-19). L.A. looks to even the season series with the current first seed in the Eastern Conference.
Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons
When: 4 p.m. PT, Mar 23
Where: Little Caesars Arena
Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet
Just when it looked like the Lakers were about to see their longest winning streak this season come to an end, Luke Kennard saved it by knocking down the game-winner. That moment
was the perfect depiction of this current winning streak: finding ways to win even when the odds have been against them. As a result, the team is currently playing its best basketball of the season.
Los Angeles will look to continue doing that on Monday when they take on the best team in the Eastern Conference by record in the Pistons. This is the same Detroit team that blew them out at Crypto.com Arena in December. This time around, Cade Cunningham won’t be available for Motor City, though they’ve been holding up well without their MVP candidate so far.
The Pistons, who are currently on a three-game winning streak, are still quite a matchup problem for the Lakers even without Cunningham. They have quality scorers in every position and the defense to match up against the Lakers’ elite offense. That’s why this match will be about whether Detroit’s defense can contain the L.A.‘s offense.
Without Cunningham in the mix, the Lakers can focus on Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris, who are currently running the Pistons’ offense. They have to make sure shooters like Duncan Robinson don’t make their presence felt either.
Remember, in the last matchup, the Pistons demolished the Lakers in transition (31-12) and points in the paint (74-44). It didn’t help that they had a terrific game from the 3-point arc (45.8%) as well.
On Monday, we’ll get to see how much the Lakers’ defense has improved from last December as well as whether or not this Lakers team can beat the best team in the Eastern Conference on the road to earn their 10th straight victory.
Notes and Updates
- The Lakers’ injury report indicates Rui Hachimura (right calf soreness), Marcus Smart (right ankle soreness) and Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain) as questionable.
- For the Pistons, Cade Cunningham (left lung pneumothorax), Marcus Sasser (right hip strain) and Isaiah Stewart (left calf strain) are out.
You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.
