Vince Ellis

Detroit Free Press

LOS ANGELES – Reggie Bullock is up next.

Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said Bullock will start against the Los Angeles Lakers tonight (9:30, FSD), as the Pistons (18-24) try to break a three-game losing streak and conclude the five-game trip on a high note.

Bullock will start at shooting guard in place of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who will miss his second straight game with a left rotator cuff strain.

Bullock returned to the lineup Friday night against the Utah Jazz after being out since late November with a left knee injury. He scored seven points in 26 minutes in the blowout loss.

“I thought that, offensively, he was good, moving without the ball, he got a couple of (scoring) cuts, knows how to play,” Van Gundy said after the morning walk-through at Staples Center.

“Defensively, he had several good plays. He lost (Jazz swingman) Rodney Hood a couple of times, but overall, I thought it was pretty good.”

Van Gundy started Aron Baynes at power forward with Marcus Morris sliding to shooting guard against the Jazz, but the availability of Bullock means a return to a more traditional lineup.

Caldwell-Pope’s shoulder was wrapped in ice, but he said he feels much better after suffering the injury in Thursday’s loss at Golden State.

Jon Leuer (right knee) went through one play of the walk-through, but remains doubtful for tonight.

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Contact Vince Ellis at vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.

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