The Detroit Pistons walk into their matchup with the Lakers coming off a 112-106 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, a game in which they spent most of the night chasing the scoreboard. Detroit is now 6-2, and the defeat served as a reminder that the margin for error gets thin fast.
Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson carried the offense against Philadelphia. Robinson poured in 27 points on 8-for-12 shooting and 7-for-11 from three, while Cunningham posted 26 points and 11 assists. Cunningham also had a chance to force a tie late, but Jaylen Brown of the 76ers came up with an incredible block.
Now the Pistons turn to their first West opponent of the season, and it comes against the league’s scoring leader, Luka Doncic. For Detroit, the biggest swing factor is clear: the three-point line.
Robinson has been excellent to start the year, averaging 19 points per game while shooting 35-for-73, good for 47.9% from deep. But outside of him, the Pistons were cold against the 76ers, finishing 5-for-23 from beyond the arc.
Cunningham went 1-for-9, and that number has to climb against the Lakers. Daniss Jenkins was 1-for-4 in the last game as well, and Detroit needs him to hit outside shots.
John Collins is another name to watch from distance, especially since he shot 40% from three last season and should be looking to let it fly more often.
The other major piece is how Detroit handles Doncic. He enters this game averaging 38.5 points per game and shooting 43% from three, a ridiculous start by any standard.
Thompson, who is an All-NBA defensive player, will be central to the assignment. The Pistons need him to stay disciplined, avoid the foul baiting, and force Doncic into tough possessions.
If Thompson can slow Doncic even a little, Detroit’s defense gives it a real path. The Pistons still lead the NBA in scoring defense at 102 points allowed per game.
Then there’s the headliner: Cunningham against Doncic. Both were first-team All-NBA last season, and this will be the first time they match up. Cunningham will be looking to respond after the late block against Philadelphia and set the tone early, while Doncic is known for getting going right away, especially in the first quarter.
Detroit also has a game Friday in the NBA Cup against the Portland Trail Blazers, but first comes a strong test against one of the league’s premier teams. The Pistons host the Lakers on Nov. 8 at 6:00 in Little Caesars Arena.
In Other News...
Jalen Durens Absence Is Testing A Dangerous Pistons Illusion
The Pistons have managed to keep rolling without Jalen Duren, sitting at 6-2 and somehow holding the leagues top defensive rating while he works through a hamstring strain. On the surface, that kind of start can make an injury feel survivable, even minor, but the numbers underneath tell a different story. Detroits offense has slipped without him, and the drop shows up where Duren matters most: points in the paint and offensive rebounds.
Durens value was never just about highlight dunks or raw energy, especially after the club committed to him on a five-year, $200 million deal following the 2026 offseason. He is a major part of how the Pistons create second chances and interior scoring, and his absence has exposed how much of that burden falls on him. His return remains pending reevaluation, and until he is back, Detroit is living with a version of itself that looks sturdy on the outside but a little less complete where it counts. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Face One Huge Luka Problem Before Lakers Tipoff
After a rough loss to the 76ers, the Pistons are turning their attention to a Lakers team that brings a very different kind of problem to Little Caesars Arena. Detroits offense will again lean on Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson, but the bigger question on this night is how the Pistons handle Los Angeles top scorer if hes on the floor.
Luka Doncic is listed as questionable because of lower back tightness, and the Pistons have already started mapping out their defensive answer. Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland are expected to get the first crack at slowing him down, which is easier said than done against a player who can bend a game in so many directions. For Detroit, the matchup may hinge less on scoring and more on whether its young defenders can make the Lakers biggest threat uncomfortable from the opening tip. [Read more 🡒]