Lakers star LeBron James soars to the basket for a dunk in front of the Detroit Pistons’ James Wiseman (13) and Evan Fournier (31) during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
New Lakers guard Spencer Dinwiddie drives to the basket as the Detroit Pistons’ James Wiseman, left, and Shake Milton, center, defend during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, right, drives as Lakers guard Austin Reaves defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers star Anthony Davis dunks the ball as the Detroit Pistons’ lineup looks on during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, left, steals the ball from Lakers forward LeBron James during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell gets to the basket for a layup during the first half of their game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey, left, drives as Lakers guard Austin Reaves defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers forward LeBron James, drives past a screen set by forward Anthony Davis, left, against Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey dunks during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura drives to the basket as the Detroit Pistons’ Simone Fontecchio defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham calls out to a teammate as he brings the ball up the court during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers star LeBron James soars to the basket for a dunk in front of the Detroit Pistons’ Simone Fontecchio during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams reacts to a play during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers star Anthony Davis gestures after making a 3-point shot during the first half of their game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, left, gets to the basket in front of Lakers forward Anthony Davis during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura drives to the basket as the Detroit Pistons’ Simone Fontecchio, left, defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers head coach Darvin Ham argues a call with referee Cheryl Flores during the first half of their game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham shoots during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers star Anthony Davis, right, grabs a rebound in front of Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers forward Taurean Prince, right, reacts after drawing an and-one foul call as Detroit Pistons guard Evan Fournier watches during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers star Anthony Davis, right, handles the ball next to Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers star Anthony Davis shoots next to Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers forward LeBron James, left, and guard D’Angelo Russell speak during a pause in play in the second half of their game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, tries to keep control of the ball next to Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Detroit Pistons’ James Wiseman dunks during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura watches during the second half of their game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Detroit Pistons’ Simone Fontecchio looks to pass as Lakers forward Rui Hachimura defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James, right, shoots as Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson watches during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers forward LeBron James gestures during the second half of their game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis, left, jumps for a rebound next to the Detroit Pistons’ Shake Milton (5) during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers star Anthony Davis reacts during a timeout in the second half of their game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams reacts from the sideline during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, center, drives as Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson, left, and guard Jaden Ivey defend during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers coach Darvin Ham, center, speaks with referee Brett Nansel, as forward LeBron James listens during the second half of their game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Detroit Pistons’ James Wiseman shoots as Lakers center Jaxson Hayes defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis shoots as Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers star Anthony Davis gestures after making a 3-point shot during the first half of their game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Detroit Pistons’ Ausar Thompson gets to the basket for a layup as Lakers center Jaxson Hayes defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James holds his follow through as he watches a shot during the second half of their game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers forward LeBron James gestures during the second half of their game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers star Anthony Davis, right, blocks a layup attempt by the Detroit Pistons’ Jaden Ivey during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
A general view as Lakers guard Spencer Dinwiddie, far left, attempts a 3-point shot in front of the Detroit Pistons’ Evan Fournier during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers star Anthony Davis reacts from near the bench during the second half of their game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
New Lakers guard Spencer Dinwiddie handles the ball during the second half of their game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers coach Darvin Ham, right, meets with former NBA player Jalen Rose after the Lakers’ victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura warms up before their game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers star Anthony Davis warms up before their game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Lakers star LeBron James throws powder in the air before their game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers fans watch the team introductions before a game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES — The Lakers have shown that they’ll collectively raise their quality of play when matched up against the best in the NBA – even if the result doesn’t end up in their favor.
An issue that’s plagued them is not bringing that same level of intensity and focus when matched up against some of the bottom dwellers, such as the league-worst Detroit Pistons, who they were matched up against Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
And with the All-Star break right around the corner, it’s common for some teams to take their foot off the gas before a week-long break in play.
But the Lakers (29-26), knowing how important this stretch before the break is and how tight the play-in tournament/playoff race appears it will be, for the most part, didn’t fall victim to the pre-break malaise, beating the Pistons, 125-111, in a result that was never in doubt.
“We got to go handle business and with the spot that we’re in right now you know we can’t afford to go take a game off and drop one,” Lakers guard Austin Reaves said. “We really need to get these two before the All-Star break to kind of give us a little bit of momentum going into that and coming back from All-Star break. We’ve got to have the same intensity.”
Just one game after all five Lakers starters scored at least 20 points for the first time in 40 years, they once again benefitted from well-rounded play.
LeBron James (25 points, eight assists) and Anthony Davis (20 points, 14 rebounds, six blocked shots, four assists) led the way as the Lakers won for the fifth time in their past six games and the 10th time in their last 15 to move three games over .500 for the first time since a week before Christmas.
The Lakers finished with 32 assists on their 43 field goals while shooting 51.2% from the field.
“Offensively, we’re sharing the ball,” James said. “Everybody’s been in a good rhythm. And then defensively, we’ve been on a string and if anything breaks down, the Defensive Player of the Year cleans it up for us. So, definitely, we’re playing some good ball.”
All five starters scored in double figures, with D’Angelo Russell (21 points), Rui Hachimura (15 points, five rebounds) and Reaves (15 points, seven rebounds, six assists) all eclipsing the 10-point threshold in another dominant offensive showing by the new starting lineup.
“Just trusting each other, not that we didn’t before,” Davis said. “And then shot-making. Guys are making shots, making plays. It’s fun playing this way. Guys are making the right plays, and the ball is popping. The result has been some good wins for us.”
Spencer Dinwiddie, the former Taft High star and 10-year veteran guard who the Lakers signed on Saturday as a free agent, made his Lakers debut, contributing six points and seven assists in 30 minutes off the bench.
“You always want to play in front of your home city,” Dinwiddie said. “You always want to have the crowd behind you. There’s nothing like this fan base. With the winning history and culture, obviously, they have high standards. They know what to expect. And hopefully, we live up to that.”
He scored his first points on an and-one layup in the third quarter to give his new team a 92-75 lead before hitting a stepback 3-pointer a few possessions later to extend their advantage to 97-79.
“The guys have done a great job making me feel embraced and comfortable,” Dinwiddie said, “so I wasn’t uncomfortable at all.”
Christian Wood added 11 points and four rebounds in 13 minutes off the bench.
Davis’ six blocks shots anchored the defense, highlighted by his exceptional stop of Jaden Ivey as the only man back on a 3-on-1 Pistons fast break in the third quarter. James repeatedly referred to Davis after the game as “the Defensive Player of the Year,” an award Davis has never won.
“I feel like I should have won it a couple of times (already), but didn’t,” Davis said. “At this point, I’m just trying to win and continue to have a presence on the defensive end. If that seems to be in the plans for me to win it this year, then obviously it would be exciting for me to have one under my belt, but I feel like I could’ve had a couple of them in my career.”
The Lakers had a rare three-day break between games, and they rolled to an early 24-point lead. One game after they scored 87 points in the second-highest-scoring first half in franchise history, they dropped 71 on the Pistons and took a 71-48 halftime lead behind Davis’ 18 points and 12 boards. Given that it was the first night of a back-to-back set, the All-Star big man only played 28 minutes and didn’t return to the court after subbing out with 3:24 left in the third.
The Lakers face the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night in Salt Lake City in their final game before the break. James told reporters postgame that he won’t play against the Jazz.
The Pistons (8-45), who won just two of 40 games from Oct. 30-Jan. 22 before winning four of their previous nine games, were by Ausar Thompson’s 19 points and Cade Cunningham’s 12 points, seven assists and seven rebounds. James Wiseman added 16 points and nine rebounds off the bench.
