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Pistons look to deal Lakers first loss

Nov 14, 2008 - 11:28 AM Detroit (6-2) at LA Lakers (7-0) 10:30 p.m. EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers look to stay undefeated when they host Allen Iverson and the Detroit Pistons on Friday.

The Lakers have been dominant en route to winning each of their first seven games in impressive fashion. Los Angeles, which lost to the Boston Celtics in six games during the NBA Finals, has scored at least 104 points in five contests and has registered an average margin of victory of 18 points.

Bryant, who is averaging a team-high 24 points per game, scored 20 points as the Lakers passed their first true test, escaping with a 93-86 victory against the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday.

Point guard Chris Paul had nine of his 30 points and a pair of assists as part of a 15-2 run that pulled the Hornets within 83-80, with 1:33 remaining in the fourth quarter.

But with the shot clock winding down and James Posey in his face, Bryant stepped back and sank a 3-pointer to double the deficit, and the Lakers made 7-of-8 from the line down the stretch to ice the victory.

Los Angeles faces another tough opponent as the Pistons are beginning to find their rhythm with Iverson, who was acquired from the Denver Nuggets on November 3.

The 33-year-old guard scored 23 points and added nine assists for the second straight game, leading Detroit to back-to-back victories with a 107-102 win against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.