DETROIT (AP) — Blake Griffin scored 23 points and the Detroit Pistons took advantage of Anthony Davis’ absence Thursday night in a 107-92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
LeBron James had 22 points and 10 assists, but only two of those points came after halftime. The defending champions have lost back-to-back games, the first losing streak of any kind for the Lakers since before last year’s playoffs.
Davis was out with a right quad contusion, and Los Angeles — which lost by a point at Philadelphia on Wednesday night — faded in the fourth quarter against the Pistons.
Detroit led by one before Griffin’s 3-pointer with 6:54 remaining started a 16-0 run. The Lakers went nearly seven minutes without scoring.
Wayne Ellington added 20 points for the Pistons.
James was questionable because of a left ankle sprain, but he looked fine at the outset, making his first seven shots from the field and scoring 20 points in the first half.
James made four 3-pointers in the half, but so did Ellington, and the Pistons only trailed 58-56 at the break.
Ellington finished 6 of 9 from 3-point range and is 40 of 67 from long distance in his last eight games. Ellington became the eighth player in NBA history to have at least seven straight games with four or more 3s.
TIP-INS
Lakers: Kyle Kuzma scored 22 points and Talen Horton-Tucker contributed 13. … James went 1 of 12 from the field after making his first seven shots.
Pistons: Detroit made all 13 of its free throws. … Mason Plumlee had 17 points and 10 rebounds.
UP NEXT
Lakers: Visit the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. The teams split two games last season, with Boston winning its home game 139-107.
Pistons: Visit the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night. The Warriors beat Detroit 116-106 on Dec. 29.
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Originally published
