Lakers 98, Pistons 97
Kobe Bryant converted the tiebreaking three-point play with 1:09 to play as Los Angeles edged Detroit for its second consecutive road victory.
Pau Gasol had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Bryant scored 18 points and Earl Clark added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who were without center Dwight Howard (shoulder) for the second straight game.
Greg Monroe had 20 points and 12 rebounds and Will Bynum added 18 points and 10 assists for the Pistons. Detroit had an opportunity for the victory but a last-second lob for Andre Drummond came up empty.
The Pistons trailed by 18 points four minutes into the second half and cut the deficit to 78-72 entering the fourth quarter. Detroit finally caught the Lakers at 91 on a 3-pointer by Charlie Villanueva with 4:35 remaining.
Gasol had 15 first-half points and the Lakers shot 57.1 percent from the field en route to a 62-51 halftime lead. The advantage reached 72-54 on Nash’s basket with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Los Angeles is 7-16 on the road and has four games remaining on a season-long seven-game excursion. … Detroit was again without recently acquired PG Jose Calderon due to visa issues. … Lakers PG Steve Nash had 11 points and 10 assists for his first double-double since Jan. 8 and sixth of the season.