Austin Reaves scored a season-high 43 points as the Los Angeles Lakers, playing without Luka Doncic, beat the Detroit Pistons 121-116 on Sunday night in Detroit.
Reaves shot 14 of 27 from the field, 4 of 6 from 3-point range and 11 of 11 from the free-throw line, according to the NBA.com box score. The Lakers (9-2) won their fifth straight game. Doncic, the league's top scorer at 40.1 points per game, sat out with tightness in his lower back, ESPN reported.
How it happened
The Lakers led 38-14 after the first quarter. Detroit (6-3) cut the lead to 90-89 early in the fourth while Reaves rested, but he returned to close it out. Collin Sexton and Ziaire Williams each scored 17 off the bench, and Walker Kessler had 12 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks.
For Detroit, Daniss Jenkins scored 31 points with eight 3-pointers, and Kevin Huerter added 24 points and five blocks. Cade Cunningham had 14 points and eight assists.
What they said
"I was a lucky player tonight," Reaves said of his bank-shot 3-pointer in the third quarter. "I didn't try to bank it in. It went in, so it looks the same in the stat sheet."
What's next: The Lakers play at Atlanta on Monday night.