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Austin Reaves scores 43 without Luka Dončić as Lakers hold off Pistons 121-116 for fifth straight win
With Luka Dončić out with low back tightness, Austin Reaves scored a season-high 43 on 11-for-11 free throws, and the Lakers never trailed after a 38-14 first quarter to beat the Pistons 121-116 in Detroit.
The Los Angeles Lakers played without Luka Dončić and never trailed, beating the Detroit Pistons 121-116 on Sunday night behind 43 points from Austin Reaves. Dončić was questionable on the NBA's 1 p.m. ET injury report and was downgraded to out with low back tightness on the 2 p.m. update.
The Lakers have won five straight and are 9-2, tied with Philadelphia for the NBA's best record. They are 2-0 this season without Dončić, who also missed the Oct. 28 win over the Clippers.
A 38-14 start
The Lakers scored the first basket and the game was tied only at 2-2 and 4-4. Quentin Grimes hit back-to-back 3-pointers for a 14-4 lead, an 11-0 run later in the quarter pushed it to 29-9, and Los Angeles led 38-14 after one. Walker Kessler's putback 39 seconds into the second made it 40-14, a 26-point lead.
Jenkins brings Detroit back
Detroit won the second quarter 34-23, and Daniss Jenkins scored 20 of his 31 points in it, including two 3-pointers in the final 16 seconds that cut the halftime deficit to 61-48. An 11-0 run late in the third — capped by two Kevin Huerter layups — turned 84-70 into 84-81, and the Lakers led 88-81 after three.
The Pistons got within one point three times in the fourth: 90-89, 95-94 and 97-96. Each time, the Lakers answered. Reaves' putback made it 97-94, Ziaire Williams hit a 26-foot 3-pointer for 100-96, and Kessler's three-point play made it 107-99 with 2:15 left. Reaves' 27-foot pull-up 3-pointer with 45 seconds left put the Lakers up 112-104, and he made his last four free throws in the final 18 seconds.
Reaves' line
Reaves finished with 43 points on 14-for-27 shooting, 4-for-6 from 3-point range and 11-for-11 at the line, with 5 rebounds and 4 assists against one turnover in 36:41. It is his season high — his previous best this season was 29 at Utah on Oct. 25 — and the fifth 40-point game of his career. Only three of his games have been higher: 51 against Sacramento on Oct. 26, 2025, 45 against Indiana and 44 against Toronto. He is averaging 25.3 points.
Walker Kessler had 12 points and a season-high 16 rebounds. Ziaire Williams and Collin Sexton each scored 17 off the bench, Williams with a season-high and four 3-pointers. The Lakers went 26-for-33 at the line; Detroit went 13-for-20.
Detroit's shooters
Jenkins set career highs in points and 3-pointers, going 8-for-15 from deep. His previous best was 30 points, also against the Lakers, on March 23, and he had never made more than six 3s in a game. Kevin Huerter scored a season-high 24 on 9-for-14 with five blocks. Cade Cunningham had 14 points and 8 assists on 6-for-15 and was minus-15. Detroit made 19 of 48 3-point attempts.
The Pistons were without Jalen Duren (right hamstring strain) and Isaiah Joe (right hip contusion).
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakers◂ | 38 | 23 | 27 | 33 | 121 |
| Pistons | 14 | 34 | 33 | 35 | 116 |
What's next
Both teams play again on Monday, Nov. 9: the Lakers at Atlanta, the Pistons (6-3), who have lost two straight, at home against Washington.