The Pistons decided to try a different strategy for this game. Instead of starting out hot and fading down the stretch, like the have their last few games, they started out cold. The Lakers did as well and the Pistons were able to get out to a 24-20 lead.
However, and stop me if you have heard this one before, the Lakers went on a huge run in the second quarter to take control of the game and never looked back. For this game, it was a 16-2 Lakers run that was the knockout punch for the Pistons.