Lakers player grades: L.A. gets manhandled by Pistons

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After a get-right 125-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday that ended a three-game losing streak, the Los Angeles Lakers faced a stiff test when the Detroit Pistons came to town on Tuesday.

The Pistons entered Tuesday's game with a 24-8 record that put them in first place in the Eastern Conference. They ranked in the top three in fast-break points per game, points off turnovers per game, rebounding percentage and defensive rating, and it was clear L.A. would be seriously challenged, especially with Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura both out of action.

The Lakers fought fairly hard in the first quarter, but they ended it down 36-30 while allowing Detroit to shoot 66.7% from the field. Detroit was seemingly scoring at will in the paint, especially in transition and after offensive rebounds. Less than three minutes into the second quarter, Los Angeles found itself down 44-30, but it came within five at halftime by scoring the last six points of the period.

The team tied the game at 70 with 5:47 left in the third period, but from that point on, the Pistons gradually took control. When reserve guard Marcus Sasser hit a 3-pointer with 7:56 left to put the Pistons ahead 107-92, it started to become clear that there wouldn't be any Purple and Gold heroics on this night.

The Lakers ended up losing 128-106. They allowed Detroit to shoot 63.2% from the field and 45.8% from 3-point range, outscore them 74-44 in the paint and hold a 31-12 edge in fast-break points, while it came up with 30 points off 21 Lakers turnovers. Sasser, who came in averaging 1.8 points in 4.8 minutes a game, put up 19 points in 24 minutes, while Cade Cunningham posted 27 points and 11 assists.

This loss dropped Los Angeles to a 20-11 record, and while it still holds fifth place in the Western Conference, it is in a virtual tie with the sixth-place Minnesota Timberwolves.

Marcus Smart: C-minus

Smart tried to make an effort with three steals and five assists. But the Lakers needed more offense from him, and lately, he hasn't been producing much offense.

Against Detroit, he shot 1-of-4 from the field and missed all three of his 3-point attempts. He ended up with six points, and it was the fourth time in his last five games in which he had six or fewer points.

Jake LaRavia: C/C-plus

LaRavia couldn't get his shots to fall much in this game. He went 3-of-9 overall and 1-of-5 from 3-point land, and he ended up with nine points. He did make a nice effort in other departments with four rebounds, four steals, one assist and one block, but L.A. needs a lot more offense from its supporting players with Reaves out.

Deandre Ayton: D

Ayton had one of his weakest games of the season on Tuesday. He scored 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting, which was partly due to him not getting the ball enough, and at least some of the credit for his low point total has to go to Detroit's defense.

But his biggest deficiency in this game came on the boards, as he had just two rebounds. He allowed Jalen Duren, his Pistons counterpart, to post 14 points, eight rebounds and five steals.

LeBron James: D

On his 41st birthday, James shot 5-of-9 in the first half, but he faded afterward and was essentially a non-factor in the second half. He ended up making just six of his 17 shot attempts and scoring 17 points, to go along with four rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block, and he also had five turnovers. Only two of his points came after halftime.

Luka Doncic: B-minus

Doncic helped keep the Lakers within striking distance in the first half with 22 points on 6-of-12 shooting. But he faded afterward and ended up with 30 points on 9-of-22 overall shooting and 3-of-11 from downtown. He helped out with 11 assists and five rebounds, but he committed eight turnovers, making this his third straight game with at least five turnovers.

Jarred Vanderbilt: A-minus

Vanderbilt didn't do a lot to slow down Cunningham defensively, but he did play very well in other ways. He grabbed eight rebounds and scored eight points in 27 minutes, and he made all three of his shot attempts, including a pair of 3-pointers.

He is now 14-of-33, or 42.4%, from beyond the arc on the season, and he ended December 10-of-19 from that distance. While opposing teams will likely continue to leave him open from 3-point land, perhaps he will continue to hit enough of such shots to make them pay.

Jaxson Hayes: B

Hayes returned to action after missing two games with ankle soreness. He made all five of his shot attempts and scored 13 points, but he got only two rebounds and had no blocks in 18 minutes.

Nick Smith Jr.: D

After scoring a very efficient 21 points on Sunday, Smith was very ineffective against the Pistons. He missed all but one of his six shot attempts and ended up with three points and one assist in 17 minutes.

Maxi Kleber: D

In eight minutes, Kleber missed both of his shot attempts and went scoreless while contributing one rebound.

Adou Thiero, Dalton Knecht, Bronny James: Incomplete

Thiero, Knecht and the younger James each played the final 4:09 of this game. Thiero missed his lone shot attempt and had three rebounds, one assist and one block, while Knecht scored 10 points by connecting on all four of his shot attempts, including two treys. The younger James had two assists and went scoreless.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers player grades: L.A. gets manhandled by Pistons

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