DETROIT _ The Detroit Pistons were gifted a golden opportunity Friday.
With the Los Angeles Lakers destined to miss the postseason, the organization rested superstar LeBron James on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Lakers were also missing point guard Lonzo Ball (left ankle) and Brandon Ingram (deep vein thrombosis).
The Pistons took advantage, but it wasn't easy.
The offensive malaise of the past week continued for significant portions of the Pistons' 111-97 victory at Little Caesars Arena, the eighth straight home victory.
The Pistons needed 3-point marksmanship from Reggie Jackson, Wayne Ellington and Langston Galloway (four 3s each) to hold off the Lakers and snap a two-game losing streak. The Pistons (35-33), who lost by an average of 31 points in the two losses, shot 17 for 39 from long range (43.6 percent).
The Pistons move into a tie with the Brooklyn Nets for sixth in the Eastern Conference playoff chase, although the Nets hold the tiebreaker after beating the Pistons by 28 points Monday.
Galloway led the Pistons with 23 points, and Jackson _ who rolled his right ankle in Wednesday's loss at Miami _ added 20 points on 6-for-19 shooting. Pistons coach Dwane Casey said pregame his starting point guard was fine. Jackson played 29 minutes.
Andre Drummond had 19 points, 23 rebounds and two blocked shots.
Javale McGee led the Lakers (31-38) with 20 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks.
Former Piston Reggie Bullock, who was dealt to the Lakers at the trade deadline, struggled with four points and was 0 for 5 from 3-point range.
Another former Piston, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, scored 17 off the bench, and Flint's Kyle Kuzma had 12 points and 10 assists.
With the Pistons' offensive rating a horrific 79.5 points per 100 possessions over the past two games, things figured to improve.
They did slightly in the first quarter when the Pistons took a 27-22 lead behind nine early points from Blake Griffin (15 points, nine assists).
But the struggle returned in the second quarter with the bench unit unable to score.
By the 4:17 mark, the Pistons had scored only five points, and trailed 35-32.
Two Galloway 3-pointers keyed a 14-5 run, giving the Pistons a 46-40 lead at halftime.
The Pistons were limited to 19 points in the second quarter.
