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When the Detroit Pistons met the Los Angeles Lakers it was a battle

By Stuart London

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 05: Bruce Brown #6 passes the ball to Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk #19 of the Detroit Pistons while playing the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on January 5, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Lakers won 106-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 05: Bruce Brown #6 passes the ball to Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk #19 of the Detroit Pistons while playing the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on January 5, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Lakers won 106-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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Jan 5, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (39) defends a basket by Detroit Pistons forward Thon Maker (7) in the first half of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 5, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (39) defends a basket by Detroit Pistons forward Thon Maker (7) in the first half of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

The game is on

As Derrick Rose entered the contest, he led a Pistons rally to cut the deficit to one point (23-22) by the end of the first quarter.

The second period was close but the Lakers ended it on a 12-4 run to take a comfortable 56-47 lead into halftime.

But just when the Lakers thought they could relax, the Pistons came out of halftime fired up.

Svi Mykhailiuk, who had been traded by the Lakers to Detroit, got the hot hand and poured in nine points in the third period, while Rose continued to play well. Wood and substitute guard Langston Galloway, were both +13 for the period as not only did Detroit catch up but they took the lead.

A quiet contributor for the Pistons was Bruce Brown, who in the first three quarters was an amazing +17. That meant Detroit outscored the Lakers by 17 points when Brown was on the floor.

Entering the fourth quarter, Detroit held a 79-75 lead before a stunned, sold-out Staples Center crowd. Lakers coach Frank Vogel got hit with a technical foul, trying to rev up his team.

Related Story. Detroit Pistons: Isiah Thomas and Derrick Rose share strong connection. light

Not wanting to be the victim of one of the biggest upsets of the season, the Lakers came out smoking for the fourth quarter.

It was not the stars like James and Davis doing the most damage, but subs like Alex Caruso (13 points), Dwight Howard and Kyle Kuzma leading the scoring.

Los Angeles held a 90-79 lead with 7:48 to go and the expected victory seemed to finally be at hand. James was taken out of the game shortly thereafter but the Pistons had him scrambling back in a few minutes later.

Led by Doumbouya and Mykhailiuk, the Pistons rallied yet again. Rose made a free throw with 4:51 remaining to give Detroit a one-point lead (92-91).

James and Davis then asserted themselves. The Pistons suffered a blow when Doumbouya fouled out with three minutes to go, hurting the already-undermanned Pistons. Still, it was just a one-point Lakers lead with 1:52 left, following a Rose three-pointer, before Davis made some big baskets at the end.

The near-miss was certainly a moral victory for the Pistons (and a real one for those who had bet on them). Coach Dwane Casey liked the fight the team showed,  but also pointed out the mistakes that cost them the victory.

The Lakers blocked 20 shots, more than 25% of all the shots the Pistons took in the game. It was the largest number of blocked shots by any NBA team since November, 2001.

"“I’m excited about it,” Casey said after the game, according to Pistons web editor Keith Langlois. “It was a step in the right direction. Hard play against the top team in the league. Everything’s got to go right against the top team in the league and we played hard. We made just enough mistakes to allow them to get us. … We’re down almost seven guys with Tony out. You don’t get any awards for participation in our league, so we’ve got to learn from it and continue to grow.”"

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