}
at 
(24-28)Wednesday, February 8, 2017, 4:30 PM PDT
The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
Referees: Marc Davis (#8), Tony Brown (#6), Lauren Holtkamp (#7)
Line: Detroit -8
GAME PREVIEW: LAKERS AT PISTONS
By Jackson Kane, realsport101.com
The Lakers will head to Detroit for the fourth game of their five-game road trip, looking to win back-to-back games.
Los Angeles had dropped five of six before getting a 121-107 win at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. It was a great team effort with seven Lakers touching the double-digit scoring plateau in the win. Lou Williams led the team in scoring with 22, followed by Nick Young's 17 for the Lake Show.
The story from the Lakers side was the move by head coach Luke Walton to start rookie Brandon Ingram at the small forward spot. Ingram responded with 14 points and seven rebounds in the decisive win. Los Angeles played to their strengths on Monday night as well, putting up 102 total field goal attempts in the win. They are a run-and-gun type of team and their guards thrive on fast breaks.
Detroit has won six of their last ten games behind one of the more well-balanced starting lineups in the league. The frontcourt and backcourt of the Pistons are capable of carrying the team to a win on any given night. Six Pistons average 11 or more points per game on the season.
Andre Drummond has posted at least double-digit points and rebounds in five of his last seven games played. The fifth-year center is averaging over 14 points and 13 rebounds per game and has Detroit clinging to a half-game lead over Charlotte for the last playoff spot in the East.
Keys to the game
Los Angeles Lakers
Paint points: Luke Walton's squad has totaled 64 paint points in each of their last two wins. They totaled only 32 in their last loss at Boston. Los Angeles must continue getting easy shots in order to defeat the Pistons on the road.
Contain Drummond: Tarik Black and Ivica Zubac will need to take this match-up personally if the Lakers want to win this game. If they can hold Drummond to around 12 points and less than ten rebounds, they can come away victorious.
Detroit Pistons
Take advantage of the Lakers' youth: Stan van Gundy should be drilling defense into Detroit's heads prior to this game. The Pistons rank fifth in the NBA scoring defense. If they can hold Los Angeles to their average of 101 or fewer points, they should win their second straight game.
19 or more assists: In each of the Pistons' last two losses, they have totaled 18 assists. The Pistons need to keep the ball moving.
Projected Lakers starting lineup
PG D'Angelo Russell, SG Nick Young, SF Brandon Ingram, PF Julius Randle, C Tarik Black.
Projected Pistons starting lineup
PG Reggie Jackson, SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SF Marcus Morris, PF Jon Leuer, C Andre Drummond.
Prediction
Luke Walton's shuffling of the starting lineup paid off at MSG. Will it pay off at the Palace of Auburn Hills? The Lake Show needs to keep up their fast-paced approach if they want to steal a road win from Detroit. Even with the lineup change, it won't be enough. Pistons by seven.
https://realsport101.com/news/sports/nb ... ion-2-8-17
