Austin Reaves scored a season-high 43 points as the Los Angeles Lakers overcame Luka Doncic's absence to beat the Detroit Pistons 121-116 on Sunday in Detroit. The victory was the Lakers' fifth straight and improved their record to 9-2, while the Pistons dropped to 6-3.
Facing the NBA's top-ranked defense, Reaves made 14 of his 27 field-goal attempts, including four of six from 3-point range, and converted all 11 of his free throws. Los Angeles was without Doncic, the league's leading scorer at 40.1 points per game, because of lower-back tightness.
Reaves' performance included a third-quarter step-back 3-pointer that bounced off the backboard before going through the basket. He said the attempt reminded him of a shot Doncic would take, although the bank was unintentional. Earlier, Reaves had also scored over the corner of the backboard while falling out of bounds along the baseline.
The Lakers received double-digit scoring from five players. Collin Sexton and Ziaire Williams each contributed 17 points off the bench, while Walker Kessler finished with 12 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. Quentin Grimes added 12 points, with 10 coming in the opening quarter as Los Angeles established a 38-14 advantage.
Detroit gradually reduced that deficit and nearly drew level during a stretch with Reaves on the bench. From the 2:30 mark of the third quarter to the 9:14 mark of the fourth, the Pistons outscored the Lakers by eight points, leaving Los Angeles ahead by just one at 90-89.
Lakers coach JJ Redick praised Reaves for his decisions, aggressive play and repeated drives into the paint. Redick also defended keeping him on the bench during Detroit's push, noting that Reaves had already played 28 of the game's first 33 minutes before leaving the floor. He said players needed opportunities to work through difficult stretches and that maintaining rest for leading players helped provide consistency.
Sexton said replacing the production of a teammate averaging 40 points required others to contribute, with Reaves taking the leading role against Detroit. Kessler likewise credited both guards for their ability to make difficult shots, saying a Lakers victory felt much the same whether Doncic or Reaves supplied the scoring.
Doncic has missed two games this season, both because of back tightness in back-to-back scheduling situations, and Los Angeles has won both. The Lakers continue their four-game road trip in Atlanta on Monday. Redick played down concerns that Doncic's back problem would persist, with the starting backcourt likely to reunite there. Reaves, meanwhile, offered a modest assessment of his unusual baskets: "I was a lucky player tonight."
