Ball, Lakers Romp To 113-93 Win Over Pistons
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Julius Randle scored 17 points, Lonzo Ball added 13 and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons 113-93 on Tuesday night.
Larry Nance Jr. had 14 points and 12 rebounds for his third double-double for the Lakers, who had lost the previous three games against the Pistons. Brandon Ingram and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each had 13 points.
Tobias Harris and Reggie Jackson each had 18 points for the Pistons, who were unable to sweep their three-game California road trip. Andre Drummond had 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy was unsure about how his team might handle the adulation associated with a surprising 5-2 start, and those concerns proved to be well-founded as the Lakers took a 58-45 halftime lead when Brook Lopez hit a 3-pointer as the buzzer expired.
Rookie Kyle Kuzma had 10 points off the bench in the second quarter, making 4 of 5 shots and knocking down both of his 3-pointers as the Lakers pushed their lead to as much as 14.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope clearly relished his first chance to play against the Pistons, who drafted him No. 8 overall in 2013. Caldwell-Pope had seven points and three rebounds in the opening 10:28 before sitting after picking up his second foul.
The Lakers made 25 of 49 shots in the first half, including 6 of 13 from 3-point range.
The Pistons had a chance to pull within single digits late in the third quarter, but Bradley had his layup blocked by Ingram and Caldwell-Pope found the second-year forward for a dunk at the other end.
Harris, Avery Bradley and Stanley Johnson all struggled with their shot, combining to go 15 of 44.
TIP INS
Pistons: After allowing 24 fast-break points in their first seven games, the Pistons allowed the Lakers to get free for 17 points. . Ish Smith had 12 of the Pistons' 30 points off the bench.
Lakers: Kuzma finished with 16 points and was one of seven Lakers to finish with double figures. . Los Angeles improved to 14-4 against the Pistons at Staples Center.
UP NEXT
Pistons: Host the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday to open a five-game homestand.
Lakers: Visit the Portland Trailblazers on Thursday.
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