Lakers win fifth straight as Austin Reaves scores 43 without Luka Doncic in Detroit

The Lakers have now won without Luka Doncic twice this season. On Sunday at Little Caesars Arena, Austin Reaves stepped into the role of lead scorer and put up a season-high 43 points in a 121-116 win over the Detroit Pistons. Los Angeles has won five straight and sits at 9-2.

Doncic, who leads the league at 40.1 points per game, sat out with low back tightness. As the LA Times reported, it was the second game he has missed this season, both on the first night of a back-to-back and both for the same back issue. JJ Redick said he does not expect it to affect Doncic much over the season, and ESPN reported that the starting backcourt will likely be back together in Atlanta. The first absence ended in a 103-87 win over the Clippers on Oct. 28, so the Lakers are 2-0 without their star.

Reaves made 14 of 27 shots, 4 of 6 from three and all 11 of his free throws in 36 minutes, according to CBS Sports. It was the fifth 40-point game of his career. ESPN reported that he joked one step-back three in the third quarter was the kind of shot Doncic would take. Writing from the Detroit side, SB Nation called him the best player on the floor by a wide margin. The site also pointed out that Detroit had reportedly been ready to offer him a max deal this summer before the Lakers locked him up.

The rest of the roster chipped in. Ziaire Williams hit four threes and scored 17, and Collin Sexton added 17 on 5-of-10 shooting as the second ball-handler. Walker Kessler had 12 points and 16 rebounds, seven of them offensive, for his fifth double-double in six games. His putback three-point play with 2:15 left pushed the lead to seven. The Lakers outscored Detroit 58-46 in the paint.

They also made the finish harder than it needed to be. Los Angeles led wire to wire and was up 26 early in the second quarter. Then Daniss Jenkins scored a career-high 31 with eight threes, and Kevin Huerter added 24. An 11-0 Detroit run late in the third, fueled by four Lakers turnovers while Reaves rested, cut the lead to three. The Pistons played without center Jalen Duren, who has a hamstring injury.

What it means for Atlanta

The Lakers turn around Monday at the Atlanta Hawks on the second night of the back-to-back. They have won seven of their last eight, and their only losses this season came against Portland and at Golden State. Over the five-game streak they have averaged 126 points and allowed just under 116. Three of the last four wins came by six points or fewer.

The Lakers are road favorites on this site's board, which tracks 11 venues. Novig has them at -125 on the moneyline, with Atlanta at +122. On the spread, Novig lists the Lakers at -2.5 for +106 and the Hawks at +2.5 for -111. DraftKings has the best price anywhere on the Hawks side at -105, six cents better than Novig. The total sits at 236.5 on Novig, -106 on both sides. DraftKings is a point lower at 235.5, with the over at -110. Sportsbook hold on the moneyline runs from 3.8% to 5.8%. Whether Doncic plays is the biggest open question, and the prices could move once his status is confirmed.

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