Austin Reaves had a season-best 43 points as the Los Angeles Lakers, without injured star Luka Doncic, built a hefty early lead and then held off the host Detroit Pistons 121-116 on Sunday.
Reaves went 14 of 27 from the field and made all 11 of his free-throw attempts as Los Angeles won their fifth straight game, according to Field Level Media and the Associated Press. The Lakers improve to 9-2 and remain first in the Western Conference, while the Pistons fall to 6-3.
Doncic was ruled out with lower back tightness, and the Lakers moved to 2-0 in games in which he does not play — a testament to their depth and to Reaves’ ability to carry the offence.
Reaves takes over
Reaves’ 43-point night was the best of his season and one of the best of his career. He scored from all over the floor, got to the free-throw line at will, and made all 11 of his attempts from the stripe.
The Lakers built a hefty early lead behind Reaves’ scoring, and although Detroit fought back — with Kevin Huerter scoring 24 points, five rebounds and five assists — Los Angeles held on for the win. It was a victory built on Reaves’ brilliance and on a team who refused to let Doncic’s absence become an excuse.
For Detroit, the defeat ends a two-game losing run at home, but the Pistons remain one of the surprise packages of the Eastern Conference at 6-3.
The Lakers’ depth
Los Angeles’ 9-2 start is the best in the Western Conference, and their ability to win without Doncic — now 2-0 in his absence — underlines their depth. Reaves, who has been one of the most improved players in the league this season, is at the heart of it.
The Lakers’ next game is on Monday night at Atlanta, where they face a Hawks side on a four-game winning streak. It will be a test of whether the Lakers can keep winning without their star — and of whether Reaves can do it again.
What comes next
The Lakers visit the Hawks on Monday at 7pm ET, in the first of eight NBA games on the night. Detroit, meanwhile, host Washington on Monday, looking to bounce back from the defeat. For Reaves, a 43-point night without Doncic is a statement — and a reminder that the Lakers are more than a one-man team.
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