Reaves scores 43 in Doncic's absence to lead Lakers past Pistons - ESPN

DETROIT — If Austin Reaves' season-high 43 points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 121-116 win over the Detroit Pistons wasn't enough of a Luka Doncic impersonation, Reaves made sure to fully embody his teammate on a 3-pointer he hoisted up in the third quarter Sunday.

«Honestly, when I stepped back and shot it, I was like, 'This is some bulls--- Luka would shoot,'» Reaves said.

The shot ricocheted off the glass and through the hoop and was one of many that fell for him — he shot 14-of-27 from the field (4-of-6 from 3) and 11-for-11 from the foul line — as L.A. extended its winning streak to five despite Doncic missing the game because of tightness in his lower back.

«I didn't try to bank it in,» Reaves said, explaining why he shrugged his shoulders in disbelief afterward. «It went in, so it looks the same in the stat sheet.»

And the Lakers (9-2) looked like the same confident group they've been to start the season, despite playing without Doncic, the NBA's No. 1 scorer (40.1 points per game), against a Pistons team ranked No. 1 in defense.

«Guys have to step up when someone's averaging 40,» said Lakers guard Collin Sexton, who scored 17 points off the bench. «You got to fill the shoes and be ready to impact winning. And I felt like we did that tonight, and AR picked those shoes up and he wore them.»

It was the second game that Doncic has missed this season — both because of back tightness and in a back-to-back scenario (L.A. continues its four-game road stretch in Atlanta on Monday). The Lakers are 2-0 without him.

«I thought AR's decision-making, his aggression, his ability to just consistently touch the paint and get downhill was fantastic tonight,» Lakers coach JJ Redick said of Reaves.

L.A. had five players score in