Austin Reaves scored a season-high 43 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons 121-116 on Sunday, November 8, at Little Caesars Arena, extending their winning run to five games without Luka Doncic, according to the Associated Press.
Reaves shot 4 of 6 from three-point range and made all 11 of his free throws, adding five rebounds and four assists in 37 minutes, according to the Associated Press. Doncic, who had averaged 45 points over his previous four games, was ruled out earlier on Sunday with lower-back tightness.
The Lakers broke the game open early, outscoring Detroit 38-14 in the first quarter and leading by 26 points early in the second, according to the Associated Press. Detroit fought back through the second half and cut the deficit to three points in the third quarter behind its bench.
Reaves settled the game late, hitting an off-balance three-pointer with 46 seconds left and then closing it out from the free-throw line, according to the Associated Press. Walker Kessler added 12 points and 16 rebounds for Los Angeles, and the Lakers finished 28 of 30 from the line as a team.
Daniss Jenkins led Detroit with 31 points, including eight three-pointers, and Kevin Huerter added 24, according to the reports. Cade Cunningham had a chance to tie the game at 90 with just over nine minutes left but missed the second of two free throws, and Detroit could not get level again.
The win improved the Lakers to 9-2, while the Pistons fell to 6-3 and dropped their second game in a row, according to Sports Illustrated. Detroit had entered the game with the league's top-ranked defence, but Los Angeles scored 121 points against it.
The Lakers continue their road trip at Atlanta on Monday night, while the Pistons host Washington on Monday night, according to the Associated Press.
Sources: Associated Press (via theScore); Sports Illustrated