|
 In a matchup between clubs with the longest losing streaks in the
NBA, the Lakers found a way to end their skid. Forward Jordan Hill
scored 16 points to lead seven Los Angeles players in double
figures, and the Lakers held off the Detroit Pistons for a 93-85
victory Tuesday night at Staples Center.
Los Angeles frequently folded this season with the game on the line.
However, the Lakers put together a quality effort on defense and
turned back several second-half rallies by Detroit to prevail.
"One thing I would say is we did a really good job defensively,"
Lakers backup point guard Jeremy Lin said. "In the third quarter, we
had a good defensive effort that carried into the fourth. Every time
they had a small run, we cut it off."
Forwards Wesley Johnson and Ed Davis added 13 points each for the
Lakers, who snapped a five-game slide. Lin finished with 12 points
(despite hitting just one field goal) and added seven rebounds and
five assists. Guard Wayne Ellington contributed 11 points. Point
guard Jordan Clarkson had a career-high eight assists, and he and
forward Tarik Black each scored 10 points.
Forward Greg Monroe scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds for
the Pistons, who dropped their seventh in a row. Center Andre
Drummond finished with 21 rebounds and 14 points, while guard
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 15 points. Pistons guard Reggie
Jackson, who averaged 18.7 points in his previous three contests,
was limited to two points on 1-of-9 shooting. He also committed five
turnovers.
"We literally could not make a shot," said Pistons coach Stan Van
Gundy, whose club committed 10 of its 14 turnovers in the second
half while shooting just 28.9 percent. "Then, in the fourth quarter,
we turned the ball over six times. Until then, we hadn't been
turning the ball over. I thought our defense in the second half and
rebounding was a lot better. At some point, it comes down to you
have to put the ball in the basket."
The Lakers (17-46) held a 78-69 lead after a layup by Lin with 6:57
remaining in the game before the Pistons rallied. A tip-in by
Drummond pulled Detroit within 83-80 with 2:57 left. However, the
Pistons (23-40) couldn't convert on key possessions down the
stretch.
"We didn't give up, we kept fighting, and defensively we did what we
had to do," said Hill, who hit a 20-foot jumper with 49.6 seconds
left that gave Los Angeles a five-point advantage. "I feel like I'm
a pretty good shooter, so I put it up. Why not?"
Detroit, which trailed most of the first half, held a 50-49 lead at
the break. Monroe scored 13 first-half points on 6-of-8 shooting.
The Pistons sank 50 percent of their shots before the break compared
to 47.5 percent for the Lakers. Overall, the Lakers hit 42.7 percent
to 38.6 percent for the Pistons.
[to top of second column] |
"The starting five just has to get in a better rhythm on both ends
of the floor," said Monroe, who scored nine points in the fourth
quarter. "We have to do better at the start of the half."
Los Angeles opened the third quarter with a 10-2 run for a 59-52
advantage after Clarkson scored on a drive. Detroit, though, cut the
deficit to one after Monroe scored inside, but the Lakers increased
the margin to 67-61 to end the third.
Los Angeles held the Pistons to 11 points in the third while scoring
18.
"I liked the defensive effort, especially in the second half,"
Lakers coach Byron Scott said. "The third quarter our defense was
probably the best it's been all season long. They were shooting 50
percent at halftime, and they ended up shooting (38.6 percent) for
the game, so second-half defense was pretty good."
Pistons guard Jodie Meeks, a former Laker, finished with 12 points.
NOTES: Poor shooting and a porous defense contributed to the
Pistons' recent downfall. "We haven't been shooting the ball very
well. I think that's been one of the overriding things," said
Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy, whose club was within a game of the
eighth spot in the Eastern Conference in late February before
falling five back heading into Tuesday's game. "Our defense has been
spotty; it's been up and down." ... Lakers G/F Kobe Bryant, who is
out for the season, discussed the rehabilitation of his torn right
rotator cuff before the game. Bryant said he would begin running in
two weeks and shooting drills in about a month. ... The Pistons
visit the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. The Lakers host
the New York Knicks on Thursday.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
