LOS ANGELES — Every so often, taking a step back can be necessary to move forward. That was the case for the Detroit Pistons before they spoiled Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James’ 41st birthday.

After the Pistons surrendered a 55-point career high to Kawhi Leonard in Sunday’s loss to the LA Clippers, coach J.B. Bickerstaff brought the team to UCLA’s Wallis Annenberg soccer stadium to decompress Monday. Detroit bonded over a game unfamiliar to most players on the roster, then did a yoga session to regroup.

The Pistons’ time away from the hardwood was the impetus for their 128-106 walloping of James and the Lakers on Tuesday. It reinforced the continuity they’d been lacking over their last two losses. It also aided in Marcus Sasser registering a season-high 19 points off the bench in just 24 minutes of action.

“It was kind of to get away from the game, but there was a lesson behind it,” Sasser said of Detroit’s time on the soccer field. “The way we advanced the ball and shared the ball playing soccer, it was a team sport thing. So, we kind of carried that over into today’s game. Just moving the ball, playing faster.

“I think it was a good experience for us to get off the court and have some team bonding outside of the basketball court.”

While Sasser said he wasn’t the Pistons’ best soccer player, he personifies the depth the team boasts. Before checking in Tuesday, he hadn’t seen a minute of action on Detroit’s West Coast road trip. He logged four consecutive DNPs and five total during his 10 games since returning from a right hip impingement.

But he stayed ready. Sasser could potentially become a relief valve for Detroit when its well runs dry from the 3-point line, as evidenced by his 4-of-6 shooting from long range Tuesday.

No other Piston made more than one shot from beyond the arc in the win. And it seemed no other Detroit player was more thrilled for Sasser’s success than Cade Cunningham.

“That’s a hard job,” Cunningham told The Athletic of Sasser’s fortitude. “To miss time, to not know when your name is going to be called, and you’ve got to be ready. It takes a lot of mental toughness, emotional toughness. And he’s got all of that. He’s weathered the storm, being out for so long.

“I’ve seen how much work he’s put in. To see him back on the court, and to put it out there like that in a game we needed him, making a lot of big plays, helping us get this win, it was huge.”

Cunningham was the only Piston to outscore Sasser, finishing with 27 points, 11 assists and five rebounds. It was his 25th time scoring at least 20 this season and his 18th double-double of the season. But his success seemed secondary to Sasser’s.

Duncan Robinson, who has worked with Sasser daily in practices and shootarounds leading up to Sasser’s return, was equally as enthused for the third-year guard as Cunningham was.