The Sports Xchange
Nov 1, 2017
LOS ANGELES -- Julius Randle scored 17 points off the bench to lead seven Lakers in double figures as Los Angeles downed the Detroit Pistons 113-93 on Tuesday night at Staples Center.
Kyle Kuzma added 16 points in a reserve role, Larry Nance Jr. had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers (3-4). Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball scored 13 points apiece, and Jordan Clarkson finished with 10.
Reggie Jackson and Tobias Harris scored 18 points each, Ish Smith had 12 off the bench, and Andre Drummond finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Pistons (5-3).
Detroit was coming off back-to-back wins against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday and the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.
The Clippers were the last unbeaten team before Detroit rallied from 13 points down in the third quarter to win 95-87. The defending champion Warriors were up by 14 in the third quarter before losing to the Pistons 115-107.
The Lakers took their biggest lead to that point at 60-45 on Ingram's bank shot on the first possession of the third quarter, and his desperation 3-pointer with two-10ths of a second left ended the quarter and extended the lead back to 15. Between those baskets, the Pistons never got closer than 10 points.
Los Angeles kept the Pistons at a distance in the fourth quarter as well, preventing them from getting back within single digits.
The Lakers led by as many as 14 in the second quarter before taking a 58-45 lead into the break.
The second unit helped extend a three-point lead at the start of the second quarter. Kuzma had seven points and Randle added six in a 13-2 run that gave the Lakers a 38-24 lead.
The Pistons managed to get back within nine twice, but Brook Lopez sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer to push the advantage back to 13.
Los Angeles showed its balance in the first half, as six players had from seven to 10 points.
NOTES: Lakers F Larry Nance recorded his third double-double of the season and 13th of his three-year NBA career. ... Lakers C Brook Lopez was 3 of 31 from 3-point range in his first eight seasons in the NBA before going 134 of 387 last season (34.6 percent). He was 2 of 6 from 3-point range on Tuesday and is 7 of 27 (25.9 percent) for the season. ... Pistons C Andre Drummond had his 234th career double-double, second most since he entered the league in 2012-13 behind DeMarcus Cousins of the New Orleans Pelicans (235). ... Detroit F Tobias Harris went 2 of 7 from 3-point range and is 21 of 48 (43.8 percent) from beyond the arc through the first eight games.