Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma sounded off on the reigning champions' disastrous performance against his hometown team Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday. According to the 25-year-old shooter, it was the team's uncharacteristically poor communication on defense that led to the Pistons' stunning 107-92 upset.

To be fair, the Purple and Gold were playing without their best defender Anthony Davis, who sat out due to a bruised right quad. Even LeBron James was listed as questionable before the match but eventually made it to tip-off. Kyle Kuzma and the Lakers allowed the home team to shoot 46 percent from the field, as their defense completely failed them in the second half. Making matters worse, the Lakers also scored just 14 points in the final 12 minutes, erasing any chance for a comeback.

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Kuzma, meanwhile, has been lauded as of late for his efforts to improve on the defensive side of the ball.  Although he still has ways to go to become a consistent stopper at his position, the Lakers brass witness him put it the work and rewarded him with an extension. Kuz did his best against Detroit, putting up 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field and 3-of-7 from deep, along with 10 boards and one block in 30 minutes.

But his efforts weren't enough, as the Lakers couldn't survive big games from Pistons players Blake Griffin, Wayne Ellington, and Mason Plumlee. This marks the first time the Lakers have lost back-to-back games this season, as they fall to 14-6 (third in the West). The Pistons, on the other hand, got their fifth win in 19 games.