The NBA landscape shifted on Monday night as the Detroit Pistons pulled off the upset of the evening, toppling the Los Angeles Lakers 113-110. In a game that saw the return of Luka Doncic after a rescinded technical foul, it was Detroit’s Daniss Jenkins who stole the spotlight. Jenkins poured in a career-high 30 points, including the clutch final four points of the game, to end the Lakers’ nine-game winning streak.
The Pistons secured their fourth straight victory despite playing without star Cade Cunningham, who remains out with a collapsed lung. Jalen Duren provided a massive double-double (20 pts, 11 reb), while the Lakers fell despite Doncic’s 32 points and a near triple-double from LeBron James (12 pts, 10 ast, 9 reb).
Streaks Extended: OKC and San Antonio Dominant
While the Lakers’ streak ended, two other powerhouses continued their ascent:
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Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 22 points as the Thunder cruised to their 12th straight win, a 123-103 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. OKC’s efficiency was the story, shooting over 53% from the floor.
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San Antonio Spurs: The “Wemby Effect” is in full force. Victor Wembanyama tallied 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks to lead the Spurs past Miami 136-111. San Antonio has now won 11 straight games with Wembanyama in the lineup and holds a league-best 22-2 record since February 1.
Historic Snaps and Career Highs
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Pacers End the Slide: Pascal Siakam exploded for a season-high 37 points and a game-saving block at the buzzer to help Indiana beat Orlando 128-126, snapping a franchise-record 16-game losing streak.
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Kawhi’s Career Milestone: Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points in a 129-96 rout of the Bucks, setting a new personal career high for made 3-pointers in a single season (149).
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Portland’s New Star: Toumani Camara went nuclear for the Trail Blazers, setting career highs in points (35) and 3-pointers (9) to dismantle the Brooklyn Nets 134-99.
With the Spurs playing at a 22-2 pace since February, do you think Victor Wembanyama has a legitimate case to leapfrog the veterans for the MVP trophy this season?
