Lakers Edge Pistons 121-116 as Jenkins Scores 31
Daniss Jenkins posted a career-high 31 points, but Los Angeles held on for a 121-116 win at Little Caesars Arena.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Basketball
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons 121-116 at Little Caesars Arena. Daniss Jenkins scored a career-high 31 points for Detroit, which lost its second straight game to fall to 6-3.
Why it matters
The loss drops Detroit to 6-3 after a sluggish start that left the Pistons down 24 points following the first quarter. Jenkins' output offered a rare bright spot for the home crowd in Detroit.
Jenkins made eight three-pointers, two short of the franchise single-game record, while Kevin Huerter added 24 points, five blocks, five assists and five rebounds. Austin Reaves led all scorers with 43 points for the Lakers.
The players
Daniss Jenkins
Jenkins is a Detroit Pistons guard whose career-high 31-point performance and eight made three-pointers led the Pistons' offensive effort in the loss to Los Angeles.
Austin Reaves
Reaves is a Los Angeles Lakers guard who scored 43 points in the victory over Detroit.
The details
The Pistons trailed by 24 points after the first quarter and 61-48 at halftime, but Jenkins hit six of seven three-point attempts in the second quarter, including a buzzer-beater from the wing. Detroit forced seven third-quarter turnovers and converted them into 11 points, but could not close the gap against Los Angeles.
Timeline
November 8, 2026: Lakers defeat Pistons 121-116 at Little Caesars Arena.
November 9, 2026: Pistons host the Washington Wizards.
Season Trajectory
At 6-3, the Pistons have now lost two straight, a stretch that tests whether their early-season form can hold against stronger opponents. The outcome leaves Detroit trailing a 9-2 Lakers team in the early standings race.
Detroit's loss leaves the Pistons at 6-3, and fantasy managers tracking Jenkins should note his 31-point, eight-three-pointer output in the box score. The Wizards game on November 9 is the next opportunity for Detroit to halt its two-game skid.
The takeaway
Jenkins' scoring surge shows how quickly a bench shooter can change a game's momentum, even when a team trails by double digits. Watching early-quarter shooting percentages can signal whether a comeback is realistic.
What happens next
The Pistons host the Washington Wizards on November 9, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more Basketball coverage from Detroit to see how the Pistons' early-season results compare.
