There’s nothing quite like playing against a lower-echelon team in the NBA to help get you back on track. That is exactly what the Los Angeles Lakers had on Wednesday night when they went on the road to play against the Detroit Pistons.
After suffering the worst defeat in franchise history at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, losing 138-94, the purple and gold bounced back in a major way against Detroit. The Lakers won 133-107, giving them a 2-1 record on their four-game road trip that ends tonight with a visit to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
After setting a brutal record against the 76ers, the Lakers set a positive one against the Pistons. According to StatMamba on X, formerly known as Twitter, Wednesday night was the first time in franchise history that three players scored at least 25 points while recording a plus/minus ratio of at least +25 in the same game.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
D’Angelo Russell was the team’s leading scorer, pouring in 35 points with a plus/minus ratio of +31, which was also a team-high. Anthony Davis scored 28 points and was +29 in his time on the court. Last but not least was LeBron James, who scored 25 points and was +26 on the evening.
It was a dominant performance by the Lakers, as virtually everyone who stepped on the court had a positive impact. Seven players overall finished the game with a double-digit plus/minus ratio as Max Christie, Austin Reaves and Cam Reddish all joined the party.
Christian Wood, the eighth man in the rotation, also finished positive with a +2, scoring 12 points with nine rebounds, one steal and two blocks in 25 minutes. Overall, the team shot 51.1 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from 3-point range. When the Pistons fouled the Lakers made them pay as well, making 31-of-38 from the charity stripe.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
For as good as the numbers looked for the Lakers, they were ugly for the Pistons, as expected. Their entire starting lineup had a plus/minus ratio of at least -17. That led to them losing their 15th consecutive game of the season.
It feels like ages ago that the Pistons were 2-1, losing their season opener before winning their next two games. In the cellar of the NBA standings once again, it is hard to find many positives when it comes to the Motor City group.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network.
