Reaves Erupts for 43 as Lakers Survive Without Doncic, Topple Pistons 121-116

In a standout performance at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday, Austin Reaves scored 43 points to propel the Los Angeles Lakers to a 121-116 win over the Detroit Pistons. The Lakers were without Luka Doncic, who was ruled out earlier in the day due to lower-back tightness.

Doncic had been on a remarkable run, averaging 45 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists over his previous four games. Walker Kessler stepped up with 12 points and 16 rebounds for Los Angeles, which snapped a four-game skid against Detroit.

Game Flow and Key Moments

Detroit fell behind 40-14 early in the second quarter but clawed back. With 9:14 remaining, Cade Cunningham had a chance to tie the game at 90 but missed the second of two free throws. Los Angeles then pushed its lead back to six points with 3:32 left, and a three-point play by Walker Kessler extended the advantage to 107-99 with 2:15 to go.

Reaves sealed the outcome with an off-balance 3-pointer at the 46-second mark and later converted from the free-throw line to secure the win.

Around the League

76ers 127, Bulls 121: Jaylen Brown scored 29 points, Tyrese Maxey added 27, and LeBron James posted a season-high 22 points in a Philadelphia uniform as the 76ers held off Chicago. Joel Embiid contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds, and VJ Edgecombe chipped in 13. At 9-2, the 76ers lead the Eastern Conference and are off to their best 11-game start since opening 10-1 in 2000-01. Josh Giddey led Chicago with 19 points, 15 assists, and seven rebounds, while Matas Buzelis also scored 19. The Bulls have lost seven straight and dropped to 1-8, tying the third-worst nine-game start in franchise history.

Timberwolves 115, Jazz 100: Ayo Dosunmu scored 26 points and LaMelo Ball added 24 points and five assists as Minnesota defeated Utah. Jaden McDaniels finished with 16 points, Bones Hyland had 14 off the bench, and Rudy Gobert posted 10 points and 15 rebounds for the Wolves (8-3), who have won four in a row and are 5-2 without Anthony Edwards. The All-Star guard is expected to miss two months after knee surgery on Oct. 29. Darryn Peterson led Utah with 26 points and six rebounds, while Keyonte George scored 19 points in three quarters before sitting out the fourth with a sprained right ankle. The Jazz have lost eight straight and are without Lauri Markkanen (right wrist).

Mavericks 130, Nets 93: Cooper Flagg recorded 25 points and a career-high 12 assists for his third consecutive double-double and fourth of the season as Dallas routed Brooklyn. Kyrie Irving scored 21 points and Daniel Gafford added 18. Michael Porter Jr. had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Nets, who were swept in a back-to-back to begin a four-game road trip. Nolan Traore added 14 points. Dallas shot a season-best 57.1% and scored a season-high in points, leading 66-46 at halftime.

Celtics 117, Bucks 97: Paul George scored 27 points, Jayson Tatum added 21, and Boston cruised past Milwaukee. The Celtics had beaten the Bucks 109-102 on Wednesday in Boston while resting Tatum. Boston (8-2) led comfortably enough to sit Tatum for the entire fourth quarter. Kyle Kuzma led Milwaukee with 27 points, while Myles Turner scored just three points on 1-of-15 shooting over his last two games. The Bucks (1-9) are off to their worst start since 1993-94.

Clippers 139, Pelicans 123: Darius Garland had 24 points and 10 assists, Brook Lopez added 20 points, and Los Angeles snapped a seven-game losing streak with a win over New Orleans. Gradey Dick and rookie Keaton Wagler each scored 15 points, and Rui Hachimura added 14. Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 26 points, while Zion Williamson and Jeremiah Fears each added 25. The Clippers used a 15-6 run to open the fourth quarter and took a 117-101 lead. Los Angeles shot a season-best 54.8% from the floor.

Heat 114, Kings 108: Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists in Miami's win over Sacramento. Antetokounmpo made 14 of 23 shots and added two blocks. Klay Thompson hit seven 3-pointers and scored 23 points for the Heat (4-6), while Bam Adebayo added 18 points and eight rebounds. Darius Acuff Jr. had 32 points and 10 assists for the Kings (1-9), who remain winless at home. Miami led 68-59 at halftime and withstood a Sacramento rally that tied the game at 95 in the fourth quarter.

Originally reported by yourvalley_net.