The Pistons conquer the Lakers and Luka Doncic's MVP dream

The nine-game winning streak of Los Angeles Lakers came to an end on Monday after falling 113-110 to the Detroit Pistons in a close finish that was decided in the final seconds. Luka Doncic's three-point attempt at the buzzer did not find the hoop, closing a game in which the Angelinos trailed for much of the match.

The team of J.J. Redick, playing the fifth game of a six-game road trip, started slowly against the Eastern Conference leaders and found themselves 16 points behind in the third quarter. Despite this, the Lakers reacted in the final stretch and managed to take the lead for the first time in the second half thanks to two free throws by Deandre Ayton with 39.9 seconds remaining.

However, Detroit responded immediately. Daniss Jenkins, in a standout performance, scored six crucial points in the closing moments to reach 30 points, a career-high, and regain the lead for his team.

The Lakers' last possession was marked by strong defense from the opposition. After a timeout with 9 seconds left, LeBron James tried to set up Doncic from the sideline, but Tobias Harris deflected the pass. Maxi Kleber attempted to recover unsuccessfully, and the ball ended up in the hands of the Slovenian, who forced a shot under pressure from Jalen Duren, failing to tie the game.

Despite the defeat, Austin Reaves highlighted the team's reaction, especially in the second half, where he scored 16 of his 24 points. The Lakers also competed on equal terms despite the absences of Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura, similar to Detroit playing without Cade Cunningham.

The main issue for the Angelinos was their offensive efficiency against one of the league's top defenses. Doncic recorded 32 points, but with low shooting percentages (11 for 29 on field goals and 3 for 13 on three-pointers). LeBron, on the other hand, went scoreless in the first half—only the third time in his career—and finished 4 for 10 on field goals. Luke Kennard, the hero in the previous game, also did not have his best night, going 1 for 5.

Despite the stumble, the team maintains positive vibes. Before embarking on the streak on March 5, the Lakers were in sixth place in the Western Conference and are now third, with ten games remaining in the regular season.

LeBron and Redick's Remarks

LeBron James emphasized the team's mental strength as a key factor in their recent growth, while Redick stressed the importance of maintaining momentum without neglecting the players' health, particularly aiming to recover the injured players.

The Lakers' next challenge will be against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, in the final game of the road trip. In this game, despite accumulated fatigue, the team will seek to end the journey with a victory before returning home.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los Pistons somenten a los Lakers y el sueño de MVP de Luka Doncic