NBA: Behind Daniss Jenkins' career night, Pistons end Lakers' win streak

Daniss Jenkins poured in a career-high 30 points, including four in the final 25 seconds, to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 113-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, snapping Los Angeles’ nine-game winning streak.

Jenkins also recorded eight assists, while Jalen Duren added 20 points and 11 rebounds in Detroit’s fourth consecutive win. Tobias Harris contributed 14 points, and Duncan Robinson chipped in 12 for the Pistons (52-19), who played without All-Star Cade Cunningham for the third straight game. Cunningham was sidelined last week after being diagnosed with a collapsed lung.

For the Lakers (46-26), Luka Doncic led the team with 32 points. Austin Reaves scored 24, and Deandre Ayton posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. LeBron James narrowly missed a triple-double with 12 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds.

Doncic was eligible to play after the Lakers successfully appealed a technical foul that would have triggered a one-game suspension for reaching the season limit. The technical foul he received on Saturday was rescinded on Sunday.

Detroit built a 101-94 lead when Jenkins made a baseline jumper with 6:20 remaining in the fourth quarter. Ayton responded with a putback to cut the deficit to 105-102 with 3:31 left. Luke Kennard tied the game with three free throws, and Harris briefly gave the Pistons a lead with a fadeaway at 2:22.

In the final minute, Ayton’s free throws put Los Angeles ahead 108-107, but Jenkins answered with two free throws five seconds later. Reaves then drove for a basket to give the Lakers a 110-109 lead with 29.7 seconds left. Jenkins responded with a baseline jumper, followed by two made free throws after being fouled, sealing the win. Doncic missed a contested 3-pointer at the buzzer.

By halftime, Jenkins had already scored 15 points and handed out five assists, helping Detroit jump to a 65-52 lead. Jenkins continued to dominate in the third quarter, assisting Robinson on back-to-back 3-pointers to extend the Pistons’ lead to 68-55. The Lakers fought back, with Doncic tying the game at 87 late in the third. Duren’s dunk sent Detroit into the fourth quarter with a narrow two-point advantage.

-Field Level Media/Reuters