On December 30, 2025, the Detroit Pistons defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 128-106 at Crypto.com Arena in a spectacular performance that demonstrated their balanced offensive attack and dealt LeBron James a loss on his 41st birthday.
With a final score of 128-106, Detroit dominated the game from the first tip, outscoring the Lakers in nearly every quarter. With 74 points in the paint, the Pistons’ frontcourt dominance was evident as they routinely overwhelmed Los Angeles’ small lineup and made easy access to the rim.
With 27 points and 11 assists to drive the offensive flow, Cade Cunningham led the way for Detroit. His all-around performance set the tone and assisted the Pistons in eliminating any attempts by the home team to rally.
Despite Luka Dončić’s team-high 30 points and 11 assists, Los Angeles was unable to overcome Detroit’s physical play and balanced scoring. The Lakers’ problems persisted as they lost their fourth game in five games, casting doubt on their consistency and defensive matchups.
The birthday boy LeBron James scored 17 points on three three-pointers and added four rebounds and four assists. Despite it being a milestone, milestone game in his 1,577th regular season appearance, he was relegated to the bench for the final moments as the Lakers fell further behind. James became one of the select few players in NBA history to appear in a game at age 41, but this night didn’t go his way.
Detroit’s depth was also on full display as Marcus Sasser chipped in with a season-best 19 points and Isaiah Stewart scored 15, as the Pistons moved past the early first-quarter loss of Tobias Harris to a hip sprain.
With the win, the Pistons snapped a two-game skid and improved their road fortunes, while the Lakers return home to get their act together before hosting the Memphis Grizzlies.