Reaves Drops 43 as Lakers Beat Pistons Without Doncic, Extend Streak

WHO:

ESPN - Austin Reaves led the Los Angeles Lakers; Luka Dončić missed the game because of lower-back tightness.

ESPN - Lakers coach JJ Redick praised Reaves’s decision-making, aggression, and ability to attack the paint.

ESPN - Lakers guard Collin Sexton scored 17 points off the bench and said Reaves “picked those shoes up and he wore them.”

ESPN - Ziaire Williams scored 17 points off the bench; Walker Kessler had 12 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks; Quentin Grimes scored 12 points, including 10 in the first quarter.

ESPN - Kessler said, “Luka game, Austin game: Lakers win,” and described both players as “incredible players.”

Pro Football Network - Reaves was praised by NBA fans for his performance and for confronting a trash-talking Pistons fan.

WHAT:

ESPN - The Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons 121-116, extending their winning streak to five games.

ESPN - Reaves scored a season-high 43 points, shooting 14-for-27 from the field, 4-for-6 from three-point range and 11-for-11 at the free-throw line.

ESPN - The Lakers improved to 9-2; Detroit’s record was 6-3. The Lakers had five players score in double figures.

ESPN - Dončić, identified as the NBA’s leading scorer at 40.1 points per game, missed his second game of the season. The Lakers were 2-0 without him.

ESPN - Reaves said of a banked three-pointer, “This is some bulls--- Luka would shoot,” and later said, “I was a lucky player tonight.”

Pro Football Network - Reaves made a decisive three-pointer after facing a trash-talking Pistons fan.

WHERE:

ESPN - The game was played in Detroit.

WHY:

ESPN - Dončić was absent because of tightness in his lower back. Redick said the Lakers needed to maintain consistency rather than rush Reaves back onto the court during the game.

HOW:

ESPN - The Lakers built a 38-14 first-quarter lead. Detroit cut the deficit to 90-89 while Reaves rested, then the Lakers held on for the win.

ESPN - Reaves’s banked third-quarter three-pointer went off the glass and through the hoop; he said he had not intended to bank it in.

Austin Reaves scored a season-high 43 points as the Lakers beat Detroit 121 to 116. Los Angeles extended its winning streak to five, despite Luka Dončić missing the game. Detroit rallied from a 24-point deficit, but the Lakers held on for victory.