The Los Angeles Lakers’ frustrating night against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday ended not only with another lopsided, double-digit loss, but with pointed postgame remarks from head coach JJ Redick, who suggested officiating played a meaningful role in the team’s latest setback.
The Lakers fell 128-106 to the Pistons, a result that once again exposed familiar issues, including careless turnovers, defensive breakdowns, and an inability to consistently match the physicality allowed throughout the game.
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 30 points and 11 assists but endured an inefficient shooting night, finishing 9-of-22 from the field and 3-of-11 from three-point range.
LeBron James added 17 points, four rebounds, and four assists, but his 41st birthday was overshadowed by the Lakers’ fourth loss in their last five games. The defeat dropped Los Angeles to 20-11 on the season, leaving them fifth in the Western Conference.
While Redick acknowledged that many of the Lakers’ issues were self-inflicted, he made it clear that the tone set by the officials influenced the flow of the contest.
Lakers’ JJ Redick Voices Frustration With Officiating
Speaking after the loss, Redick stopped short of directly blaming referees for the outcome, but emphasized that inconsistent whistles and uncalled contact definitely disrupted the Lakers’ rhythm.
“I think there’s probably a level of frustration when you’re turning the ball over and you’re feeling like you’re getting fouled,” Redick said, via ESPN. “There’s frustration there, for sure. It’s just, you got to play through it.”
“They’re going to foul on every possession, probably three or four times, and that’s not a knock, I’m not saying it in a negative way, but they’re going to foul three or four times on every possession. [And the officials are] not going to call a foul on every possession.”
Detroit played an aggressive, physical style that repeatedly knocked the Lakers off-balance, particularly on the perimeter and in transition. The Pistons were whistled for 26 fouls, only two more than the Lakers’ 24.
Detroit forced 21 turnovers and converted them into 30 points, while the Lakers generated 20 turnovers but managed just 19 points off those opportunities. The Pistons dominated inside, scoring 74 points in the paint compared to the Lakers’ 44, and outpaced Los Angeles 31-12 in fast-break points.
From beyond the arc, the contrast was equally stark. The Lakers shot just 11-of-39 from three-point range (28%), while Detroit connected on 11-of-24 attempts (46%), further exposing Los Angeles’ perimeter defense.
Doncic Chimes In as Issues Extend Beyond the Whistle
Doncic, who finished with eight turnovers, echoed some of Redick’s frustration while placing greater responsibility on the Lakers themselves.
“We’ve got to definitely match their physicality,” Doncic said. “That’s the whole point. We got to match how they play. You saw the refs let it go, so we should play [with] physicality, for sure.”
James declined to weigh in on the officiating, stating, “It’s not my lane to talk about how it was officiated or not.”
Despite Redick’s comments, the loss highlighted deeper, ongoing concerns for the Lakers. They currently rank 26th in defensive rating at 117.8, despite sitting eighth offensively at 117.1.
Over the past 15 games, that defensive decline has only worsened, with the Lakers posting the second-worst defensive rating in the league at 122.6, ahead of only the Utah Jazz.
The defeat added to a troubling stretch for the Lakers, who continue to search for consistency as the season progresses. Injuries and lineup instability have played a role, but recurring issues with turnovers, defensive focus, and physicality remain unresolved.
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