Shaquille O'Neal had 28 points and 10 rebounds and Kobe Bryant scored 20 points as the Lakers were dominant en route to their seventh straight victory over Detroit, 121-92.
The Pistons have lost 12 of their last 14 games after a surprising start that had them atop the Central Division. Detroit had won two straight at home, but Los Angeles has not lost here since December 20, 1991, and wasted no time continuing their dominance.
"We played the best team in the league and we're a team trying to get well," Pistons guard Jerry Stackhouse said. "That's not the team to get well against."
 That's Shaquille O'Neal and he is dunking against the Pistons. Greg Shamus NBAE/Getty Images |
The Lakers had a 60-42 cushion at halftime and extended the lead with its best quarter of the season following the break.
Los Angeles made 14-of-22 shots, including 3-of-6 3-pointers, and sank 8-of-10 free throws en route to 39 points in the third quarter, its best of the season.
O'Neal made 4-of-6 shots and scored 13 points in the quarter. Overall, he made 11-of-17 shots and 6-of-10 free throws.
"In the second half, Shaq got going and there literally was nothing we could do," Stackhouse said. "It's was a man among boys out there."
"We just did what we were supposed to do," O'Neal said. "We're supposed to do that to a team like that. We're playing as a team right now. When we play like that, there aren't too many teams that can play with us. If we can do that the outcome should be like this."
Derek Fisher and Samaki Walker scored 11 points apiece for Los Angeles, which improved to 3-0 since O'Neal returned from a five-game absence due to an arthritic right big toe.
"Sometimes you have to take a couple steps back to take one step forward," Bryant said. "That's the process we found ourselves in. Now it looks like we're starting to find our rhythm again."
Mitch Richmond scored 11 points and fellow reserve Devean George added nine as the Lakers shot 52 percent (46-of-89) from the field and made 20-of-25 free throws.
"We hit a hot spell tonight," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "That game was pretty much over in the middle of the third quarter. In the second half, they hit a lot of threes and couldn't keep the game interesting. Shaq's presence inside stopped penetration and we were able to control the boards."
Stackhouse scored 27 points and Clifford Robinson added 14 for the Pistons (16-17), who suffered their worst loss of the season and fell under .500 for the first time since dropping their season opener.
"There's no excuse for this," Robinson said. "You're going to miss shots and make mistakes, but if you can't put forth a consistent effort you need to be held accountable. This ship is still afloat, we have to get this turned around."
"We've got to attack this," Stackhouse said. "We have some winnable games coming up. We'll find out this week who is still dedicated. If there are people who aren't willing to give the effort, I'll help find them somewhere else to be."
Damon Jones scored nine points off the bench and Ben Wallace had eight and 12 rebounds for Detroit, which shot only 42 percent (30-of-72) and was outrebounded, 44-32.
"I'm disappointed with how it went out there," Pistons coach Rick Carlisle said. "I just feel we weren't really there. It's time for me to look at the situation and figure out exactly where we are. We started out as a tough-minded team and I still believe it's in these guys to have that kind of identity."