Coming off a game where they nearly bested one Los Angeles team only to fall short, the Detroit Pistons are gearing up to face another challenge.
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Coming off a game where they nearly bested one Los Angeles team only to fall short, the Detroit Pistons are gearing up to face another challenge on Tuesday. The Pistons, traveling to Los Angeles, will square off against the Lakers in the first leg of a back-to-back. Following this matchup, they’ll head to Phoenix to take on the Suns on Wednesday before the All-Star break kicks in.
This week, the focus for the revamped Pistons will be on building synergy as they integrate several new players into the lineup following last week’s trade deadline. A trio of fresh faces made their Pistons debut on Saturday, with Simone Fontecchio, Troy Brown Jr., and Shake Milton all contributing from the bench.
Fontecchio, in particular, showcased his potential for a starting role, delivering an impressive performance with 20 points and nine rebounds in Saturday’s 112-106 road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite holding a 13-point lead in the third quarter and starting the fourth with a five-point advantage, Detroit faltered late in the game.
For the Lakers, Reddish (ankle injury), Venderbilt (foot injury), and Vincent (knee injury) will not be playing the game. Besides, Christie (ankle injury), Davis (Achilles Tendon injury), and James (ankle injury) could also miss out on the game. As for the Pistons, Grimes (knee injury) and Stewart (ankle injury) will sit this one out.
The Lakers seem to have regained their momentum in what has been a rollercoaster season. Los Angeles secured their fourth win in five games by defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 139-122 at home on Friday. Furthermore, the Lakers are entering the first day of a back-to-back, as they prepare for a visit to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday before the All-Star break begins.
The Lakers opted to stand pat at the trade deadline, indicating that D’Angelo Russell’s recent impressive performances were enough to secure his position on the team. In a gesture of gratitude, Russell led the team with 30 points in their triumph over the Pelicans.
Over the past 12 games, Russell has maintained an average of 24.1 points, boosting his season scoring average to 17.5. He has also reclaimed his starting role alongside Austin Reaves, who contributed 27 points in Friday’s game. Together, the backcourt duo combined for a 9-of-17 shooting performance from beyond the arc.
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