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Los Angeles, California - The Lakers currently lead their season series with Detroit 1-0 after dropping last season’s series with the Pistons 0-2 and splitting 1-1 in 2005-06. This will be the 196th meeting between the Pistons and Lakers with Los Angeles holding a 128-67 advantage. The Lakers are 3-7 in their last 10 overall contests with Detroit but are 2-2 in their last four against the Pistons.

 

The Lakers are 7-2 all-time against the Pistons at Staples Center. In Detroit, the Lakers have lost their last five regular season games in a row to the Pistons after winning nine straight regular season games in Detroit from 1993-2002. Under head coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers are 10-5 against Detroit (1-4 against the Pistons in the postseason (2004 NBA Finals)). In 20 career games including 16 starts against the Pistons, Kobe Bryant is averaging 21.4 points with a personal high of 40 established March 4, 2006 at STAPLES Center. In their last trip to Detroit 2/8/07, the Lakers were held to a series low 78 points, breaking the old mark of 81 points established 2/10/05 at Detroit. The Lakers acquired Maurice Evans, whom they traded earlier this season to Orlando along with Brian Cook for Trevor Ariza, from Detroit 6/28/06 in exchange for the draft rights to second round selection (51st overall) Cheikh Samb. While the Lakers celebrate their 60th NBA season this year, the Pistons are celebrating 50 years in the NBA. The Lakers and Pistons have met five times in the postseason since the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, six including their time in Minneapolis, with the Lakers going 4-2 in those meetings but just 1-2 in NBA Finals.

 

Last meeting: Lakers 103, Detroit 91 - Friday, November 16

 

Leading by as many as 11 points in the second quarter, the Lakers allowed the Pistons to take their first lead of the game with 8:44 left in the third period before outscoring their opponent 41-23 in the fourth and final quarter, resulting in a 103-91 victory over the Detroit Pistons at STAPLES Center. Despite shooting .271 from the field in the first three quarters combined, Los Angeles hit 16-of-21 shots from the field and went 5-of-6 from three point range in the final period, scoring 40-plus points in a quarter for the first time since 1/4/07 at Sacramento. Lamar Odom led all scorers with a season-high 25 points and 15 rebounds, including a career-high tying 9 offensive boards, and Kobe Bryant added 19 points, 11 points coming in the fourth quarter on 4-of-4 shooting, to go along with seven assists and four rebounds. Andrew Bynum (12 points and seven rebounds), Vladimir Radmanovic (11 points), Jordan Farmar (10 points and four steals) and Brian Cook (10 points) rounded out six Lakers scoring in double figures. The Lakers outscored the Pistons in the paint 48-28 and committed only nine turnovers while forcing 17 Detroit turnovers. Tayshaun Prince (16 points and nine rebounds) and Richard Hamilton (16 points) led all scorers for the Pistons while Flip Murray scored 15 points in the absence of Chauncey Billups, who was out with a sore left knee and right hip pointer. Rasheed Wallace (13 points and 10 rebounds) and Jarvis Hayes (13 points) rounded out the five Pistons in double figures while Detroit falls to the Lakers for only the second time in their last eight regular season contests.

Listen live to the Los Angeles Lakers at Detroit Pistons on KXO Radio AM1230 - El Centro, California