Preview of Lakers vs. Pistons Tonight

Although the Detroit Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers early on in the season, they are burdened with injuries and may not prove to be a big challenge tonight. The Lakers have not done well in Motor City in the past- remember the blowouts in 2003 (111-88) and 2005 (103-81), 2008’s last-second loss (90-89) and the three consecutive one-sided defeats in the 2004 NBA Finals.

The Pistons (34-36) aren’t what they used to be and the Lakers may benefit from that tonight, but why have they been a problem in the past? “They play defense, you know? It makes it tough to win games there,” offers Lakers guard Derek Fisher. Pistons shooting guard Richard Hamilton has been sidelined due to a groin injury, center Rasheed Wallace has been out due to a sore calf and Allen Iverson (who replaced shooting guard Chauncey Billups, who was traded to Denver, in the first week of the season) hasn’t been playing as well as Detroit hoped. In order the star ahead of Cleveland for the league’s best record, the Lakers could use a win in Detroit tonight.

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