Austin Reaves Scores 43 as Lakers Hold Off Pistons Without Luka Doncic
Austin Reaves scored a season-best 43 points as the Lakers defeated the Pistons 121-116 without Luka Doncic. Los Angeles survived Detroitâs late comeback to win its fifth consecutive game and snap a four-game losing streak against the Pistons.
Reaves answers the call
Austin Reaves scored a season-best 43 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers past the Detroit Pistons 121-116 on Sunday night, with Luka Doncic unavailable.
The Lakers built a large early advantage before Detroit mounted a comeback, but Los Angeles held on to win its fifth consecutive game. The result also ended a four-game Lakers losing streak against the Pistons.
Walker Kessler contributed 12 points and 16 rebounds for Los Angeles, which overcame Detroitâs late push at Little Caesars Arena.
A decisive scoring night
Reavesâ 43-point performance was the defining feature of a win that required the Lakers to withstand sustained pressure after their fast start. Detroit scored 34 points in the second quarter and 35 in the fourth, but Los Angeles finished with the five-point victory.
The Lakersâ result came amid a busy night in the NBA, but Reavesâ production stood out as the clearest individual storyline: he supplied the scoring normally associated with the teamâs headline stars while Doncic sat out.
The ESPN game recap reported the final score and Reavesâ 43-point effort, while AP coverage detailed the Lakersâ fifth straight win and Kesslerâs double-double.