Here is what you need to know before the Lakers pay a visit to the Detroit Pistons.
1)
The Lakers have been relying on the long ball lately, knocking down 10.0 3-pointers per game in their last four games. During this stretch, they are shooting 33.6 percent from deep.
2)
D’Angelo Russell has scored in double figures in three straight games. In Atlanta on Friday, the second-overall pick notched his first double-double with 16 points and a career-best 10 rebounds.
3)
The Pistons haven’t been able to solve the Lakers in recent history, dropping each of their last six games against the purple and gold, dating back to Nov. 4, 2012. L.A. has also won 11 of its last 12 contests against Detroit.
4)
The Pistons are on a streak of their own, having won three in a row. During this stretch, Detroit leads the league in scoring (115.0), while ranking third in field goal percentage (48.4).
Pistons Shot Chart (Last Three Games)
5)
During Detroit’s streak, Reggie Jackson has elevated to an elite level. In his last three games, the Italian-born Jackson is averaging 29.3 points and 9.7 assists — both of which are third in the NBA — while shooting 59.6 percent from the field.
6)
The Lakers’ bigs have the unenviable task of containing seven-footer Andre Drummond, who leads the league in rebounding (17.0) and points in the paint (15.5). Drummond has a double-double in 18 of 20 games, while no other player has more than 12.
7)
Opponents have shot just 39.8 percent when covered by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, tying for 10th in the league in defensive field goal percentage. The other player holding foes to that mark is Jordan Clarkson.
8)
The Pistons are still searching for answers from their bench, which ranks last in the NBA in both scoring (21.9) and field goal percentage (35.9). Steve Blake, who played for the Lakers from 2010-14, is one of Detroit’s consistent rotation players.
9)
The Pistons are a tall task when it comes to rebounding, in which they rank third with 47.2 boards per game. Detroit also leads all teams on the offensive glass (13.9) and place second in second-chance scoring (15.2).
10)
Detroit has been surprisingly vulnerable at the rim, where opponents are shooting 54.7 percent — the second-highest mark in the league.