DETROIT — LeBron James celebrated his 41st birthday on Tuesday, but the Detroit Pistons stole the spotlight with a 128–106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Cade Cunningham set the tone early, producing 27 points and 11 assists as Detroit controlled the game from the opening tip. The Pistons scored 74 points in the paint, repeatedly exploiting Los Angeles’ interior defense.
James logged 17 points, three three-pointers, four rebounds and four assists in his 1,577th regular-season appearance, becoming only the 12th player in league history—and the sixth this century—to play at age 41 or older. He spent the final minutes on the bench with folded arms while Detroit closed out the win.
The Pistons shook off a brief third-quarter surge from the Lakers, answering with a 16-6 run that spilled into the fourth period and removed any doubt. Marcus Sasser delivered a season-best 19 points, and Isaiah Stewart added 15. Detroit played most of the night without Tobias Harris, who exited in the first quarter with a left hip sprain.
Luka Doncic led Los Angeles with 30 points and 11 assists, and Jaxson Hayes contributed 13. Defense, however, remained a major issue: the Lakers could not keep Detroit out of the lane, slow the tempo, or string together stops. The loss dropped Los Angeles to 20-11; notably, all of the team’s defeats this season have been by double-digit margins.
While James’ longevity added another milestone to his storied career, the evening ultimately belonged to a Pistons squad that played with more energy and cohesion from start to finish.
Source: Hoops Wire
