Reaves Scores 43 to Power Lakers Victory Over Pistons

Austin Reaves scored 43 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers past the Detroit Pistons 121-116 on Sunday at Little Caesars Arena. The victory marks the first time Los Angeles has beaten Detroit since a four-game losing streak against the Pistons ended. The Lakers achieved this result without Luka Doncic, who was ruled out earlier in the day due to lower-back tightness.

Doncic had averaged 45 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists in his previous four games. His absence left a noticeable void in the Lakers' offensive engine, forcing the team to rely on other players for production. Walker Kessler provided support with 12 points and 16 rebounds for Los Angeles.

The Lakers established control early in the contest. They outscored Detroit by 24 points in the first quarter. The team shot 69.6% from the field, making 16 of 23 attempts. They also converted five of eight three-point shots during that opening frame. This early surge allowed Los Angeles to build a substantial lead that would define the rest of the game.

Detroit responded with a strong second quarter, with Daniss Jenkins hitting a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer to narrow the deficit to 61-48. Jenkins finished with a career-high 31 points in 32 minutes off the bench. Kevin Huerter also contributed 24 points from the bench for the Pistons. Together, the two bench players outscored the Lakers' starting lineup, 44-30.

The game remained close in the third quarter, but Reaves scored 13 points to limit Detroit's comeback efforts. The Pistons cut their deficit to three points after a 13-2 run that included four consecutive layups. However, Los Angeles regained the lead in the fourth quarter. Kessler extended the advantage to 107-99 with a three-point play with 2:15 remaining.

Reaves secured the win in the final minute. He hit an off-balance three-pointer with 46 seconds left and then made both free throws to clinch the result. Detroit had a chance to tie the game at 90 with 9:14 left, but Cade Cunningham missed the second of two free throws. The Pistons drop to 6-2 after losing their second straight game.

The Lakers will travel to Atlanta on Monday night for their next matchup. Detroit will host Washington in their following game on Monday night.