Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick addressed his team’s disappointing 117-114 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday, emphasizing the importance of controlling turnovers and executing in tight moments.
“We knew ahead of time that they were going to shock our blitz at times. I’m not sure why we were so surprised by that,” Redick said after the game. He pointed out several key mistakes, including players dribbling off the ball and passing to Malik Beasley, who capitalized by hitting a crucial three-pointer.
The loss to Detroit marked the Lakers’ second defeat to the Pistons this season, with Detroit sweeping the season series for the first time in recent years.
Beasley led the Pistons with 21 points, while Cade Cunningham added 20 points and 10 assists. Despite a strong triple-double from LeBron James, who finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, the Lakers couldn’t overcome their own mistakes.
“We’ve had a lot of progress,” Redick noted, but he added, “It’s very hard to win in this league if you give the other team 15 more scoring opportunities than you did. It’s hard to win.” The Lakers turned the ball over 20 times during the game, allowing Detroit to capitalize on those mistakes.
Detroit maintained control for most of the game. Although Los Angeles made a late push, scoring eight straight points to narrow the gap, the Pistons held strong, benefiting from a key overturned foul call on video review. Cunningham missed a 3-pointer, and despite James getting an open 30-footer with seconds remaining, he couldn’t sink the shot to win.
Redick acknowledged that his team’s offense performed well, but the turnovers proved too costly. “Outside of the turnovers, we played a really good offensive basketball game,” he said. “Defensively, I thought we had the right intent.” However, the team’s inability to limit mistakes ultimately cost them the game.
The Pistons capitalized on the Lakers’ defensive lapses in the fourth quarter. With Detroit holding a 117-106 lead, they made a 16-4 run that widened their advantage, a surge sparked by Beasley and Jaden Ivey, who scored 18 points. This offensive explosion sealed the win for Detroit, who had already defeated the Lakers at home earlier in the season.
Anthony Davis added 19 points and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Lakers’ shooting struggles. Los Angeles shot just 46.7% from the field and was 14-of-30 from beyond the arc. Max Christie and Austin Reaves also chipped in double-digit points, but their efforts couldn’t match Detroit’s hot shooting.
