The Detroit Pistons put an emphatic end to the Los Angeles Lakers’ longest winning streak in six seasons, hanging on for a thrilling 113-110 victory on Monday night at Little Caesars Arena. The game, marked by dramatic swings and clutch performances, saw Daniss Jenkins and Jalen Duren step up in the absence of the Pistons’ All-Star Cade Cunningham, while the Lakers’ late-game magic finally ran out in the Motor City.
With nine seconds left and the Lakers trailing by three, the stage was set for one last act of heroics. LeBron James, who had been held scoreless through the first half for just the third time in his storied career, looked to inbound the ball and give his team a shot at tying the game. His pass, however, was deflected by Tobias Harris, forcing Luka Dončić to scramble near midcourt. Jalen Duren shadowed Dončić every step, and the Lakers’ star was left with no choice but to launch a desperate turnaround three-pointer from the left wing. The shot sailed wide, and the Pistons’ bench erupted as their defense sealed the win.
“Jalen Duren locks up Luka Doncic, who has to take a very difficult turnaround 3-point attempt to tie the game, and he airballs it – Pistons win,” summarized one NBA analyst, capturing the tension of the final possession.
The result snapped a nine-game winning streak for the Lakers, a run that had catapulted them from sixth to third place in the Western Conference. The streak included hard-fought victories over the Timberwolves, Nuggets, and Rockets, and had reestablished Los Angeles as a legitimate playoff threat. Their record now stands at 46-26, giving them a two-game cushion over the Nuggets, Rockets, and Timberwolves, all bunched closely in the standings as the postseason approaches.
For the Pistons, the win was more than just a statement—it was a testament to their depth and resilience. With Cade Cunningham sidelined indefinitely due to a collapsed lung, Detroit turned to Jenkins, who delivered perhaps his finest performance yet. Jenkins finished with 30 points and eight assists, shooting an efficient 11-of-18 from the floor and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. He scored the Pistons’ final six points, including a pair of ice-cold free throws and a midrange jumper over Austin Reaves with just 24.6 seconds remaining.
“Daniss Jenkins, once again, saved the day for the Detroit Pistons,” wrote the Detroit Free Press, highlighting the guard’s ability to rise to the occasion. Jenkins, a former two-way player, has been instrumental in keeping the Pistons atop the Eastern Conference during Cunningham’s absence. He’s posted impressive numbers in recent games, including a 22-point, 8-assist, 7-rebound effort against the Warriors last Friday, and his leadership has been crucial to Detroit’s recent surge.
Jalen Duren was equally vital, contributing a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. But it was his defense on Dončić in the dying seconds that truly stood out—an effort that won’t show up in the box score but may prove pivotal in the Pistons’ push for a deep playoff run.
Detroit’s defense set the tone early, holding the Lakers to just 41.3% shooting in the first half and building a 65-52 halftime lead. Dončić, who had averaged 40 points over his previous nine games, was held scoreless in the second quarter after exploding for 17 in the first. The Lakers’ trio of Dončić, James, and Reaves combined to shoot just 7-for-28 before halftime, as the Pistons’ perimeter defenders, including Ausar Thompson, clamped down relentlessly.
The Lakers, though, refused to go quietly. A third-quarter surge, sparked by James’ first points of the night—a three-pointer with 5:54 left—ignited a 20-6 run that trimmed Detroit’s lead to single digits. James, who finished with 12 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds despite a first-half hand injury, also threw in a block, a fastbreak layup, and a nifty assist to Austin Reaves for a three-pointer. Reaves was a bright spot for L.A., tallying 24 points and five assists, and giving the Lakers a brief lead with a driving layup with 29.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
But Jenkins responded in kind, draining a midrange jumper to put the Pistons back in front, then calmly knocking down two free throws after being fouled, pushing Detroit ahead for good. The Lakers had their chances—Dončić missed a go-ahead jumper with 12 seconds left, and his final attempt was smothered by Duren—but the Pistons’ defense held firm.
Detroit’s victory, their 52nd of the season, solidified their grip on first place in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons now sit five games ahead of the Boston Celtics and 5.5 ahead of the New York Knicks, with 11 games left to play. They’ve already clinched a playoff spot and home-court advantage in the first round, and are closing in on their first Central Division title since the 2007-08 season, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers by eight games.
The Pistons’ success has come despite adversity. In addition to Cunningham’s absence, Detroit was without Isaiah Stewart due to a left calf strain. Their ability to adapt—leaning on Jenkins, Duren, and other role players—has been a hallmark of their season. Head coach Monty Williams praised the team’s mental toughness, noting, “Our guys have responded to every challenge. It’s a special group.”
On the Lakers’ side, injuries have also taken a toll. Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura both missed the game, with Smart nursing an ankle and hip injury and Hachimura sidelined by a calf issue. Lakers coach JJ Redick lamented their absence: “Not having him [Smart] killed us. He’s the glue guy for us, and it changes the way we play.”
Still, Redick remains optimistic about his team’s prospects. “I thought we could be a good basketball team the entire season,” he said. “We saw flashes of it. We saw short stretches of it, but we’re a good basketball team, and I think we have to continue to play together.”
Looking ahead, the Lakers will wrap up their six-game road trip with a visit to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, hoping to regroup and regain their momentum before returning to Los Angeles. The Pistons, meanwhile, continue their homestand with matchups against the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. With Jenkins and Duren leading the charge, and the hope of getting Cunningham back before the postseason, Detroit has every reason to believe their best basketball is still ahead.
As the regular season winds down, both the Pistons and Lakers find themselves in the thick of fiercely competitive playoff races. Monday’s game was a reminder that in the NBA, every possession counts, and even the smallest defensive stand can tip the balance between victory and defeat. The Pistons seized their moment—and now, the rest of the league is on notice.