Austin Reaves leads Los Angeles Lakers to victory over Detroit Pistons

On November 9, 2026, the Los Angeles Lakers secured their fifth consecutive win by defeating the Detroit Pistons with a score of 121-116. The game took place in the absence of star player Luka Doncic, who remained sidelined due to lower back discomfort following a stretch of high-performance games averaging 45 points.

Austin Reaves stepped into a lead role, achieving a season-high 43 points, including 10/19 two-point shots, 4/6 three-pointers, and 11/11 free throws, alongside 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 36 minutes of play. Zaire Williams and Collin Sexton also contributed 17 points each to the effort. The Lakers established an early momentum, leading by as much as 40-14 in the second quarter, but the Pistons mounted a comeback attempt that brought them within striking distance in the final minutes. The Lakers ultimately maintained their lead with key plays from Walker Kessler, who scored a pivotal goal-and-foul with 2:15 remaining.

This victory solidifies the Lakers' current winning streak. While the Lakers successfully adjusted their rotation to compensate for Doncic's injury, the Pistons fell short despite their late-game push led by Cade Cunningham, who missed a crucial free throw during the comeback attempt.