Lakers vs Pistons preview, predictions, betting odds, live stream info
The Lakers look to continue progressing in Detroit as they take on the Pistons
The Los Angeles Lakers come into Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons still having only won three games on the season. However, one of those wins came in mid-November against these same Pistons, meaning they have to be hopeful that they can come out with their fourth win on Sunday.
In that first matchup, Kobe Bryant had the best game of what we now know is his final NBA season. Though he was inefficient as ever in terms of his shooting, he dished out nine assists and played the role of facilitator where he’s so deadly.
However, the biggest key to that first meeting between these two teams was the inefficient shooting of Detroit as a whole, but particularly their starters outside of Andre Drummond. Reggie Jackson, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ersan Ilyasova, and Marcus Morris combined to shoot an abhorrent 13-48 from the field and just 4-16 from long-range.
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If the Lakers, particularly the likes of Kobe, Jordan Clarkson, and D’Angelo Russell, can play the same kind of perimeter defense in terms of closing out on the perimeter to force Detroit into that kind of shooting performance, this game could be winnable for Los Angeles.
However, there are certainly still concerns for the Lakers in this game, notably how poorly they defend the pick-and-roll. The young Lakers guards have a tendency to get loss in defending those sets, which doesn’t bode well for them if Jackson and Drummond get going in arguably their most dangerous set in the offense.
It really all depends on which Lakers team shows up on Sunday afternoon. This team is in the midst of a brutal road trip and their legs may not fully be under them at this point. If they show that and lack the necessary effort, the result will be far different than the first time these two teams matched up.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons
Date: Sunday, Dec. 6
Start Time: 3 p.m. PT
Location: Detroit, MI
Arena: Palace at Auburn Hills
TV Info: TWC Sportsnet, FS Detroit
Live Stream: NBA League Pass
Radio: Here
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Detroit -9.5
Moneyline: Detroit -500, Laker +435
O/U: 198.5
Injury Report
Los Angeles Lakers: Larry Nance Jr. (knee)—Day-to-day
Detroit Pistons: Jodie Meeks (back)—Out, Brandon Jennings (Achilles)—Out
Prediction
20. Final. 98. 64. 89
The Lakers may have won the first matchup in this home-away series against the Pistons, but this matchup seems troublesome for Los Angeles. In the middle of this brutal road trip for the Lakers, Detroit has the potential to just cause the Lakers all kinds of problems and come away with a win on Sunday.
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