Reaves Scores 43 to Lead Lakers Past Pistons in Detroit

Austin Reaves scored 43 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers past the Detroit Pistons 121-116 on Sunday. The victory came during a road game at Little Caesars Arena, capping a performance where Reaves finished with 14 of 27 field goals. It marked his first 40-point game and his highest scoring total of the season.

The Lakers entered the contest with a roster issue they had not yet resolved in the first three weeks of the campaign: managing minutes without Luka Dončić. The superstar guard sat on the bench for the entire game against the Pistons, who held the league's best defensive record. The team had to rely on its remaining options to open its road trip.

Los Angeles built a substantial early advantage by forcing turnovers. The Lakers led 38-14 after the first quarter, scoring 17 points directly off eight Detroit giveaways. Quentin Grimes, who started in place of Dončić, contributed 12 points, including 10 in the opening period.

Detroit responded by cutting the deficit to 13 at the half. The Pistons erased a 26-point second-quarter lead by the end of the third quarter. The momentum shifted when Reaves subbed out with 2:30 remaining in the third, allowing Detroit to run off a 7-0 burst that narrowed the gap to 84-81.

Collin Sexton restored the Lakers' cushion before the final frame. He scored a layup and hit two free throws to put Los Angeles up 88-81 entering the fourth quarter. Reaves added 13 points in the third quarter himself, helping stabilize the offense during Detroit's surge.

The game tightened in the fourth, with Detroit closing within one point midway through the period. The Lakers held on for a wire-to-wire win. Late plays from Reaves, Sexton, Walker Kessler, and Ziaire Williams secured the victory. Kessler finished with 12 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, and three blocked shots, while Williams added 17 points. Sexton finished with 17 points for Los Angeles.