Pistons try again to beat the Lakers on the road

The Los Angeles Lakers insisted they weren’t concerned after losing four straight tight games earlier this season. Their recent play might offer more reason to hit the panic button.
The Lakers’ last four losses have come by 15 points or more, a concerning trend they’ll try to stop as they continue a busy stretch against the visiting Detroit Pistons.
Los Angeles (23-11) is 10-9 since a 13-2 start, with a 2-4 record since Dec. 21 considerably more alarming than four straight defeats by 10 points or fewer from Nov. 26-Dec. 1. Los Angeles’ last four losses have come by an average of 17.3 points, with a 104-85 no-show Sunday against Memphis the team’s third at Staples Center in that span.
Perhaps a meeting with Detroit (11-23) will help. The Lakers had no problem putting away the Pistons in a Nov. 17 trip to The Palace, getting 33 points from Bryant and 25 from Pau Gasol in a 103-90 win in which they led by as many as 26.
Los Angeles is 16-3 when Gasol scores at least 18 points and 7-8 when he goes for 17 or fewer.