Austin Reaves Scores 43 to Lead Lakers Past Pistons Without Luka Dončić

Austin Reaves scored 43 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 121-116 victory over the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, Eurosport reported.

Lakers Claim Fifth Straight Win

The Sunday night victory improved the Lakers to 9-2 on the season and kept the team in first place in the Western Conference, according to USA Today. Los Angeles also moved to 2-0 in games played without Luka Dončić.

Dončić sat out the matchup due to lower back tightness. The guard had entered the contest averaging 40.1 points per game as an early MVP favorite, USA Today reported.

Reaves stepped into the primary scoring role by shooting 14-of-27 from the field. He hit four of six three-point attempts and went a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line, finishing with a game-high 43 points.

“I was a lucky basketball player tonight,” Reaves told reporters after the game, per USA Today.

Pistons Push Back After Slow Start

The Lakers built an early 38-14 lead in the first quarter after forcing eight Detroit turnovers and converting them into 17 points, the New York Post reported. Detroit fell behind by 26 points in the second quarter and trailed by 13 at halftime.

The Pistons chipped away at the deficit behind 31 points from Daniss Jenkins off the bench and 24 points from Kevin Huerter, Eurosport reported. Detroit cut the margin to three points late in the third quarter during a 7-0 run while Reaves rested on the bench, according to the New York Post.

Collin Sexton added 17 points and Ziaire Williams contributed 17 points for Los Angeles to help stem the Detroit rally. Center Walker Kessler recorded a double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds alongside three blocked shots, according to USA Today and the New York Post.

“Luka is an incredible player, and I think there are times when he’s playing that A.R. kind of has to take a secondary role,” Kessler told reporters, per USA Today. “But you could see tonight that he’s a very capable player.”

Sixers Hold Off Bulls at the Top of the East

In the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers bounced back from a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers by defeating the Chicago Bulls 127-121, Eurosport reported. The Sixers have lost only two games this season.

LeBron James scored 22 points and handed out 5 assists in his best outing of the season for Philadelphia. Jaylen Brown added 29 points and Tyrese Maxey chipped in 27 points, according to Eurosport.

The Sixers took control in the second quarter and never trailed again, despite a late push from Chicago that narrowed the margin to two points in the final minutes. Nick Nurse coaches the Philadelphia squad.

“On a lot of players who have already known this kind of tense situation at the end of a match, and we know how not to yield to panic,” James said after the win, as reported by Eurosport.

Antetokounmpo Lifts Heat Over Kings

Giannis Antetokounmpo posted 29 points and 14 rebounds to power the Miami Heat past the Sacramento Kings 114-108, Eurosport reported. Miami improved its record to 4-6 on the year.

Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. finished with 32 points and 10 assists in the loss. Sacramento dropped to 1-9 on the season, remaining at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, according to Eurosport.

Next Games on the Schedule

The Lakers travel to Georgia to play the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET in the second game of a back-to-back set, USA Today and the New York Post reported.

Earlier coverage: Austin Reaves Scores 43 to Lead Lakers Past Pistons Without Doncic

More on this story: Luka Dončić Scores 42 Points to Lead Lakers Over Miami Heat

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