Lakers-Pistons takeaways: L.A. wins in Schroder, Bryant debuts

Both had missed the Lakers’ first 13 regular-season games, Dennis Schroder with a right thumb injury and Thomas Bryant with a left thumb injury, but both were back in action for the first time this season and made names for themselves.

Schroder, a point guard, gave the Lakers another playmaker and full-back.

Bryant, a center, gave the Lakers some goals and rebounds inside.

With LeBron James (left adductor trunk) not playing, the Lakers needed the “extra bodies” of Schroder and Bryant.

“It was great to see them both out there,” said Lakers coach Darvin Ham. “Just to kick them out of there and get them some game action. Your timing will come.

“Thomas was huge in some segments. Even Dennis – with an extra playmaker out there, a ball handler and a guy who could take [Bojan] Bogdanovic for some possessions. A guy who wants to do it on both sides of the ball.”

Here are three takeaways from the Lakers’ 128-121 win over the Pistons on Friday night at the Crypto.com Arena:

1. Schroder missed four of his five shots and scored just two points, but he had two assists and was able to organize offense when needed.

Bryant had eight points in four-for-six shooting and five rebounds.

“I think the greatest thing for both of them [is] I’m getting her wind right now,” Lakers forward Anthony Davis said. “But these two guys played great for us, gave us big buckets and got us back in the game.”

This is Schroder’s second go-around with the Lakers. He spent the 2020/21 season with the Lakers. He spent last season with the Boston Celtics and the Houston Rockets.

Schroder played 16 minutes and 17 seconds against the Pistons.

“It was great,” he said. “We have the ‘W’ and that’s all that matters. I look forward to Sunday.”

2. It’s been a tough season for Kendrick Nunn.

His shot gave him up all season, but he got back on track against the Pistons and made all four of his shots, including his two threes, and scored 10 points off the bench.

During the four days the Lakers had off this week, Nunn said he spent each day at the team’s training facility just working on his jumper.

“I really found my rhythm in these four days,” he said. “I was glad we had this little time off to get some momentum and I took every day, every four days that I was locked up.”

3. The Lakers went to work at the free throw line and knocked them down.

They shot 87.5% from the line (35 of 40).

Davis was particularly good at the free throw line, making 18 of 21.

Wenyen Gabriel was five for five from the free throw line.

“And we complained. Imagine,” Ham said. “We complained. i know man … They are in the heat of battle. But we were foul shooters. But thank God we stayed aggressive which allowed us to make so many tries. But you look at that number after the game and you’re like, ‘Man, what the hell were we complaining about?’ But that also applies to the NBA.”