A heavyweight showdown between Eastern Conference leaders Detroit and the in-form Lakers did not disappoint, with Los Angeles recovering from a 16-point deficit in the second half to take the game to the wire.
Austin Reaves put the Lakers 110-109 ahead with 30 seconds remaining with a floating jump shot, but Jenkins scored Detroit’s final four points for a hard-earned win.
Luka Doncic, who finished with 32 points, launched a last-gasp three-point attempt that could have forced overtime, but his effort fell short.
Detroit lined up again without star point guard Cade Cunningham, absent indefinitely after suffering a collapsed lung.
In Cunningham’s absence, Jenkins stepped up to lead the Pistons, while Jalen Duren added 20 points with 11 rebounds and Duncan Robinson 12 points.
“I’m no longer surprised,” Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff said of Jenkins. “When he’s gotten the opportunity he’s delivered for us.”
“Whether it’s throughout the game or in clutch moments, he finds a way to impact winning. He deserves a lot of credit tonight,” he added.
The Lakers will wrap up a six-game road trip against the lowly Indiana Pacers on Wednesday before returning to California.
Doncic’s 32 points were complemented by 24 from Reaves.
LeBron James narrowly missed out on a triple-double, scoring of 12 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.
Detroit improved to 52-19 to extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to five games clear of the Boston Celtics (47-24).
The Lakers fell to 46-26 and remain third in the Western Conference with a two-game cushion over fourth-placed Houston, who fell to the Chicago Bulls 132-124 at the United Centre. (AFP)
Edited by Aaron Tam
