Updated March 23, 2026, 2:35 p.m. ET
The Detroit Pistons host the Los Angeles Lakers in a highly anticipated NBA matchup Monday night in Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit.
The recreation between the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons and the West’s 3-seed Lakers took a little bit of a success final week, once we realized Pistons All-Star and MVP candidate Cade Cunningham suffered a partially collapsed lung injury in a recreation Tuesday in Washington. He is out by the beginning of April at the very least. The Pistons additionally stay with out defensive standout Isaiah Stewart (calf) off the bench.
The Lakers have surged to 9 straight wins, led by Luka Dončić − the NBA’s scoring chief at 33.4 factors per recreation − Austin Reaves (23.5 ppg) and 41-year-old superhuman LeBron James (21.1 ppg). The Lakers damage report has dominated out beginning guard Marcus Smart and key bench contributor Rui Hachimura tonight towards the Pistons.
The Pistons gained at Los Angeles on Dec. 30, 128-106, behind Cunningham’s 27 factors and 11 assists and Marcus Sasser’s 19 factors off the bench. The Lakers had been lacking Reaves in that recreation.
Will the Pistons pull off the upset regardless of lacking their finest participant? Here’s our Lakers-Pistons prediction for the sport rating.
[Cade Cunningham timeline: What other NBA lung injuries tell us ]
Pistons vs Lakers prediction
Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press: The Lakers have hit their stride, coming into Monday using a nine-game profitable streak. Luka Dončić is performing like an MVP and their protection, initially a weak point, has been barely above common since All-Star weekend. But even with out Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart, the Pistons match up effectively and have gained their final three towards the Lakers. Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland give them robust choices towards Dončić and LeBron James, they usually additionally ought to spark the Pistons’ transition recreation. The Lakers do not have the personnel to decelerate Jalen Duren. It’ll be shut, however I feel the Pistons can eke this one out. The rating: Pistons 114, Lakers 109.
Pistons vs Lakers recreation time
- Matchup: East 1-seed Pistons (51-19) vs. West 3-seed Lakers (46-25).
- Date: Monday, March 23.
- Time: 7 p.m. ET.
- Location: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
- Box score.
Pistons vs Lakers channel
Pistons vs Lakers odds
The Lakers are a tiny highway favourite over the Pistons in tonight’s recreation at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The line moved some extent towards the Pistons on Monday afternoon:
- Spread: Lakers by 1½ factors.
- Total O/U: 226½ factors.
- Moneyline: Lakers -118, Pistons -102.
Odds supplied by BetMGM as of Monday afternoon.
Pistons damage report vs Lakers
Updates solely on gamers on the 15-man roster, per the NBA official injury report.
- OUT: Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart, Marcus Sasser, Bobi Klintman.
Lakers damage report vs Pistons
Updates solely on gamers on the 15-man roster.
- OUT: Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura.
Lakers vs Pistons beginning lineups projection
Here’s the projected Pistons-Lakers beginning lineups:
- Pistons: Daniss Jenkins (PG), Duncan Robinson (G/F), Ausar Thompson (F), Tobias Harris (PF), Jalen Duren (C).
- Lakers: Luka Dončić (PG), Luke Kennard (G/F), Austin Reaves (G/F), LeBron James (F), Deandre Ayton (C).
Pistons prime bench gamers: Caris LeVert (G/F), Javonte Green (G/F), Kevin Huerter (G/F), Ron Holland II (F), Paul Reed (C).
Lakers prime bench gamers: Dalton Knecht (G/F), Jake LaRavia (F), Jarred Vanderbilt (F), Jaxson Hayes (C).
Pistons magic quantity to clinch 1 seed in playoffs
The Pistons’ magic quantity to earn the No. 1 seed within the Eastern Conference playoffs is 7 over the 2-seed Boston Celtics. The Pistons have already clinched a playoff berth. They lead the Celtics by 4½ video games within the East and lead the Knicks by 5 video games. The Pistons personal the tiebreaker towards each groups.
