Pistons vs. Lakers final score: Pistons consistent effort propels them to 112-106 win

A pair of 40-loss teams squared off in Little Caesars Arena Monday night, and it didn’t result in a snooze fest. A somewhat fun Lakers team being in town was a large reason why, but the Pistons also have had something to offer viewers lately, winning games they should win in recent days and doing so with a little more juice than we are accustomed to.

The Pistons, led by a particularly strong third and fourth quarter, overcame the talented but very inconsistent Los Angeles Lakers by a score of 112-106.

The Lakers’ 23-year-old Julius Randle battled Blake Griffin all around the court, limiting (with the referees help) Blake to just 24 minutes of action. They went at each other a number of times, both having rather efficient evenings when all was said and done. Griffin scored 15 on nine shots (2-of-3 from deep). Randle scored over 20 points for his eighth straight game.

Randle also has some other Blake Griffin-esque flavors to his game:

Rookie Lonzo Ball hit his first six shots from the field (all twos) and finished with 15 points, 11 dimes, and eight rebounds in 43 minutes. We knew the kid could play, and play he sure did. One of the things that stood out to me is his ability to almost glide through the game like he’s not trying all that much. That’s just how he is. He doesn’t really show emotion much. He’s going to be lethal with maturity and some of this young, talented Lakers team growing with him.

Kyle Kuzma scored 20 along with 11 rebounds in his return to Michigan. Old friend Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was 3-of-10 from downtown for the game, scoring 13 points in 38 minutes.

Reggie Jackson looked better than OK in spurts, and certainly got a lot of shooting and dribbling practice in on a very aggressive night for him. Reggie was 9-of-22 in 28 minutes, good for 20 points.

The Pistons bench chipped in 42 points and seven treys on the evening, paced by Anthony Tolliver’s 15 points.

The Pistons will try for their fifth win in their last six games on Thursday against the Wizards.