Pistons vs Lakers final score: Cade’s triple-double leads Pistons past Lakers

The Detroit Pistons welcomed Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers to Little Caesars Arena for some Monday Night Football Basketball. JJ Redick and JB Bickerstaff both are looking to grow in their new roles as head coach for their respective teams.

The Pistons got off to a hot start that started with a 15-7 run, including 12 from Tobias and THJ together. The ball was moving much more than it has so far this season and the offense looked good. Cade added a tough off-the-dribble three as well, and if he continues to knock these down, he becomes extremely difficult to guard:

Pistons stayed hot to finish the first quarter on a 12-2 run from the continued played of Tobias and THJ. Pistons shot 40% from three on their way to a 33-22 lead.

The game did not slow down for Detroit as they took a halftime lead 67-53 while shooting 55% from the field. Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr, and Jaden Ivey all led the way with double digit points. Ron Holland was everywhere with eight first-half points – he was 0/5 beyond the arc, but 3/3 on twos as he continues to be a weapon in transition.

The Pistons defense looked solid despite LeBron and AD combining for 29 points. They outrebounded LA 27 to 18 behind Jalen Duren’s seven points and ten rebounds – he looked strong and was a force down low with a couple of strong dunks under the basket.

It was, without a doubt, the best half of basketball the Pistons had played so far this year. Look no further than this sequence with Stew blocking LeBron and JI in the spin cycle to sum up how fun the first half was:

Now, just don’t blow a second-half lead, right? How hard could it be to lose a 14-point halftime lead?

The Pistons continued to play with their foot on the gas as the second half started. A Cade Cunningham layup over Anthony Davis put the Pistons up 81-63 at the 5:22 mark in the third. But, of course, just to make things interesting, Detroit just had to give up a 14-2 run to the Lakers over the rest of the quarter. The Pistons’ lead dwindled to six after being up 14 to start the third.

Up 83-77 going into the fourth, it was time for the Pistons to close a game in which they held a fourth quarter lead. A LeBron dunk brought it within five with four minutes left, but it never got any closer for the Lakers as Detroit followed up with a Cade Cunningham mid-range bucket in the post. With just under three minutes left, two LeBron free throws brought the score to 106-100, but then Cade Cunningham found Jaden Ivey on back-to-back possessions for an open three and a floater in the lane to put the dagger into the Lakers – oh yeah, and Cade recorded his first triple-double of season, too. Cade led the team late to beat the LA Lakers 115-113, and finished it off with a saucy bucket:

Cunningham finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. Jaden Ivey shot 63% from the field and shot seven free throw attempts on his way to 26 points. Tim Hardaway Jr continues to be a flame thrower from deep and Jalen Duren had another strong showing with 11 points and 14 rebounds.

The Pistons are winners of three out of their last four games. What a beautiful thing to be able to write.

I’ll leave you with this perspective to think about:

The Pistons travel to Charlotte to take on LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller on Wednesday night.