Lakers News: Post-Trade Deadline Pistons Missing A Starter Vs Los Angeles

The Lakers host an all-time bad team today.

The 8-44 Detroit Pistons are on a relative “hot streak,” by their standards, having won four of their last 10 contests, while also losing to the mighty LA Clippers by just six points a couple of days ago. 

Despite that, they come in as 10.5-point underdogs, highlighting the widespread, non-existent confidence in them to potentially upset your Los Angeles Lakers tonight.

Much of their recent (relative) success comes on the back of second-year guard Jaden Ivey, who has put up 37, 26, and 23 points in the team's three most recent games. He'll be joined tonight by Cade Cunningham in the backcourt, along with rookie small forward Ausar Thompson, stud second-year big Jalen Duren, and new addition Simone Fontecchio, hot off a 20-point debut for Detroit against the LA Clippers, in the frontcourt. 

Given that Detroit has been much better as of late, it wouldn't be surprising if the club kept this game close. Increased usage for Ivey has encouraged a full-fledged breakout, and his speed and athleticism could wind up being issues for the Lakers' defensively-limited guards.

Anthony Davis protecting the rim, however, represents something that Ivey hasn't faced over the past few games. Expect him to be slowed down a bit as a result, opening the door to LA building up an early lead and potentially running away with it in the opening half.