Los Angeles Lakers vs Detroit Pistons

The Los Angeles Lakers looked unstoppable when they started 7-0 last season and the Detroit Pistons came in for a mid-November and walked out victors. The Lakers are not nearly as good as they were at the same time last year and look to get back on track when the Pistons return to Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

The Lakers (7-3) were off to a 7-1 start before losing two straight humbling games, first by setting the lowest scoring half in franchise history Friday in Denver when they lost 105-79.

Los Angeles scored just 23 second half points and shot a season-low 35.3 percent in the half against the Nuggets to snuff out their six-game winning streak. Then Sunday night, the hangover continued as the defending champions shot 33.3 percent and earned only 37 second-half points in the 101-91 loss.

The Lakers were also outrebounded 60-38 and Kobe Bryant went 5 of 20 from the field and scored 18 points against the Rockets and notched just one additional point, 19, against Denver.

Bryant strained his groin but is expected to play and avoid scoring under 20 points in three straight games since early 2005 while his team is looking to avoid three straight losses for the first time since early 2008.

Detroit (5-5) was slowed down at home by the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, snapping their three-game winning streak.

The Detroit Pistons have been dealing with injuries and were missing both Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince against the Mavericks and also saw Rodney Stuckey leave the game late in the fourth quarter, though Stuckey appears ready for Tuesday’s game.

After the Pistons 106-95 win last November 14, the Lakers won the rematch, in Detroit on March 26, 99-77, although Detroit has won four of the last five.

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