Daniss Jenkins outduels Luka Dončić as Pistons snap Lakers win streak

Daniss Jenkins, once again, saved the day for the Detroit Pistons. With Cade Cunningham sidelined for the third straight game with a collapsed left lung, Jenkins scored the final six points – a pair of free throws, a midrange jumper with 24. 6 seconds remaining, and a final pair of free throws with 9 seconds left – to clinch an upset of the Los Angeles Lakers, 113-110.

Jenkins led the Pistons (52-19) with 30 points and eight assists in securing the win over a Lakers team riding a nine-game winning streak. EARLY START ON THE POSTSEASON: NBA playoffs clinched, Detroit Pistons working in 'ramp-up mode" Detroit Pistons playoff picture With the win, the Pistons expanded their lead over the Boston Celtics, for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, to a full five games; the Celtics were idle on Monday night.

Detroit, which clinched a playoff spot on Friday, locked up homecourt in the first round – a top-four seed – on Monday, stretching their lead over the 5-seed Toronto Raptors (who played later Monday) to 12½ games with 11 to play. The Pistons also edged ever closer to their first Central Division title since the 2007-08 season; they sit eight games up on the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were idle Monday. Next up for the Pistons The Pistons continue their four-game homestand with a visit from the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday (7 p.

m. , ESPN/FanDuel Sports Network Detroit). The Hawks entered Monday half a game up on the Orlando Magic for the final non-play-in tourney spot in the East and half a game back of the Raptors for the 5-seed.